A Paterson police officer is now facing criminal charges after shooting a man in the back. The New Jersey attorney general said the shooting violated the state's use-of-force policy. KevRincon reports.
The New Jersey attorney general said the shooting violated the state's use-of-force policy.
Video from the early morning hours of June 11 shows officers responding to calls of a large crowd causing a disturbance. During that call, they found a gun."Yeah, I got the weapon right here," another officer responds. But seconds later, shots can be heard in the distance. Officer Jerry Moravek is seen running toward that sound. Not long after, a man in a white hoodie is seen running.Less than 15 seconds later, the officer shoots 28-year-old Khalif Cooper in the back.As he lay there handcuffed waiting for an ambulance, Cooper can be heard saying repeatedly he wasn't armed."I saw him with a handgun. You didn't see him with a gun here?" Moravek says.
After months of investigating, Attorney General Matt Platkin this week charged Officer Moravek with second-degree aggravated assault, and second-degree official misconduct.That night, there was a gun found near where Cooper was seen running, but Platkin says it wasn't in his possession, or within his reach.In a short statement,
said the city's preliminary review found the officer was following guidelines -- as he chased a man he thought was armed.If convicted, Moravek could face up to 10 years in prison on each count.
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