CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released body camera video Thursday from three separate incidents -- two where officers shot and killed someone and another where an officer violated department policy during a traffic stop. The CMPD said it has released the videos to build community trust and show that it is taking action to be more transparent.
Below is a breakdown of each case.
CMPD officer shoots, kills armed man during domestic disturbance call
CMPD has released body camera video of a deadly officer-involved shooting during a domestic disturbance call last year in northeast Charlotte.
According to CMPD, at around 8 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2019, someone called 911 about a domestic violence situation involving 55-year-old Delano Williams and his wife at a home on Ernest Russell Court.
Police said Williams and his wife lived together and have children together, and they were in the process of separating. When officers got to the house, Williams was not there, but they did speak with his wife.
Police said four hours later, just after midnight, Williams returned to the home with a gun, held his wife and her sister against their will and fired a gun at least twice, hitting his sister-in-law in the leg before she escaped the home.
Investigators said three teens were in the house at the time but ran outside. Williams' daughter called 911 and was on the phone with dispatchers when gunshots could be heard in the background. She told police that her mother and aunt were still in the home and that her father pointed the gun at her aunt.
CMPD said when officers returned to the home they heard gunshots. Officer John Juhasz then rushed to the backyard where he confronted Williams.
Police said Juhasz raised his gun from outside the home and fired three shots from 50 feet away through a sliding glass door, striking Williams.
“The officer who fired his weapon was able from his vantage point to observe the suspect raising up a weapon as if to fire,” Capt. Jackie Hulsey said.
Williams was taken to a hospital but later died. His sister-in-law was also taken to a hospital and was OK.
Juhasz was not hurt but was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
Witnesses' accounts and body camera footage corroborated that Juhasz and people inside the home were in danger, according to CMPD. District Attorney Spencer B. Merriweather said Juhasz’s use of deadly force was justified and his actions likely saved the life of Williams' wife.
A Superior Court Judge has granted a petition for the release of all body-worn camera videos associated with this incident.
>> In the interest of transparency, Channel 9 has decided to link to the full video clips provided by CMPD here. Viewer discretion is advised.
Listen to 911 calls from the incident here.
Officer shoots, kills man accused of attacking Charlotte pastor
CMPD has released body camera video detailing the moments a robbery suspect accused of attacking a Charlotte pastor was shot and killed by a police officer last year.
According to CMPD, around 1:40 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2019, 32-year-old Michael Kelley walked into the South End Presbyterian Church, asked for prayer, then slashed the pastor with a box cutter before stealing his wallet and car.
Police said Kelley then robbed the Family Dollar on West Tyvola Road before Officer Timothy Kiefer spotted him on West Boulevard.
Investigators said Keifer then ordered Kelley to get on the ground and to take his hand from behind his back. Kelley reportedly said, “I’ll shoot you,” and started running toward Kiefer.
Kiefer let his K-9 out of the vehicle, but the dog did not run toward Kelley.
According to CMPD, the officer fired several shots while Kelley continued to run toward him. Kiefer then ran behind his vehicle, but Kelley followed. Kiefer continued to shout commands at the dog, but the animal did not go after Kelley. That’s when Kiefer fired three more shots, which hit Kelley.
According to police, Kelley fell to the ground and dropped a knife. The knife was recovered from the scene.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office cleared Kiefer, saying that he “faced an imminent threat of great bodily harm or death” and the shooting was justified.
A Superior Court Judge has granted a petition for the release of all body-worn camera videos associated with this incident.
>> In the interest of transparency, Channel 9 has decided to link to the full video clips provided by CMPD here. Viewer discretion is advised.
CMPD officer disciplined following traffic stop
CMPD has released body camera video after an officer was disciplined following a traffic stop in southwest Charlotte last year.
According to CMPD, at around 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2019, an officer spotted 37-year-old Anthony Caldwell driving down Billy Graham Parkway with a fake license plate. The officer turned on his blue lights and tried to pull Caldwell over but he kept driving until he reached the parking lot of the Extended Stay Hotel on Yorkmont Avenue.
Police said the officer walked up to Caldwell’s vehicle and repeatedly asked him to roll down the windows and unlock the car door, but Caldwell refused, so the officer used his baton to break the window.
Once the officer was able to get into the vehicle, police said Caldwell resisted arrested, causing the officer to use physical force to get the situation under control.
After the struggle, CMPD said Caldwell was put in the back of a patrol car and taken to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office where he was charged with failure to heed blue lights and siren, resist/delay/obstruct a law enforcement officer, driving while license revoked, operating a vehicle without liability insurance and displaying a fictitious registration number plate.
According to police, Caldwell went to the hospital after he was released, complaining of arm pain. Doctors told him he had a fractured elbow.
Caldwell then filed a complaint against the arresting officer and CMPD immediately launched an internal investigation. Investigators took statements from Caldwell, the arresting officer and other officers who were called to the scene. They also sorted through several body camera and witness videos.
CMPD said that on April 2, an Independent Chain of Command Review Board concluded the “soft-empty hand control techniques” that the arresting officer used when Caldwell resisted arrest were consistent with departmental training and policy. However, the board said the manner in which he managed the encounter was a violation of CMPD’s Conduct Unbecoming policy.
The officer received an 80-hour unpaid suspension, is ineligible for promotion for a period of two years and has been reassigned from his specialty unit.
During the course of the internal investigation, supervisors found two additional CMPD officers had violated department policy and CMPD generated another internal review. This review determined a responding officer accidentally closed a police vehicle’s door on Caldwell’s foot and then failed to report the incident to a supervisor. The officer received a 24-hour unpaid suspension.
It was also determined that a sergeant on the scene also violated the CMPD’s Rules of Conduct by not speaking with Caldwell when he had requested to speak with a supervisor. The sergeant received a written reprimand.
CMPD said it will continue to hold officers accountable when their actions violate department policy.
A Superior Court Judge has granted a petition for the release of all body-worn camera videos associated with this incident.
>> In the interest of transparency, Channel 9 has decided to link to the full video clips provided by CMPD here. Viewer discretion is advised.
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