BRENTWOOD — A Salem police captain testified that officers had no other option than to draw their service weapons and fire on Larry Minassian once he began sprinting across his driveway with a 14-inch knife held over his head.

“If everybody had a Taser on them, someone would have died. He was on us so quick,” police Capt. James Chase testified.

State prosecutors ruled last January that the officers were justified in using deadly force against Minassian, 53, who went on trial Tuesday for criminal threatening and reckless conduct for allegedly endangering three officers who responded to the scene.

Prosecutors argued that Minassian called 911 as a way to lure police officers to the front of his home last Jan. 6, where he planned to initiate a suicide-by-cop scenario.

When police found Minassian in front of his home at 155 South Policy Street, he was ranting about being under investigation by the FBI and DEA, according to court testimony.

He threw a Bible down in his driveway and told officers it was the last day he was going to live before raising the blade above his head and sprinting at police, who formed a perimeter around his driveway, several officers testified.

The defense suggested during opening arguments that Minassian had no fixed plan to kill himself or draw officers into firing on him.

“Larry has issues. That will become evident,” defense lawyer Richard Sheehan said. “And if his goal was to become shot, I don't think police necessarily need to comply with that.”

Sheehan said Minassian's actions were a cry for help that ended tragically. The police shooting ended up costing Minassian his left leg.

Salem police Officer Ryan Sambataro, the first to arrive on the scene, testified that his attempts to talk with Minassian seemed to fall on deaf ears. The two had known each other because they went to the same martial arts studio and gym when Sambataro was a teenager.

“I basically told him, you've known me for a long time. You trust me,” Sambataro testified.

Police officers testified that they lined up around Minassian's driveway, and tried to assure him that he was not under investigation by law enforcement and needed professional help.

Chase, who was the commanding officer at the scene, testified that Minassian was pacing as he ranted, appearing to work himself up before sprinting at the officers with the knife raised over his head.

One police officer had a rifle trained on Minassian while other officers had already drawn their sidearms.

“I knew the shots were going to come. I didn't know when,” Chase testified. “I could hear the rounds start going off. He got hit in the leg. I shot my Taser.”

Police Sgt. Joel Dolan testified that he fired on Minassian but didn't hit him.

“It's not something that's normal for any person, so it causes a great deal of stress,” he testified. “I was out of work for two months. It's emotional on you, and it's emotional on your family.”

Testimony is expected to resume on Wednesday morning.

jkimble@newstote.com