The affidavit said an officer flanking Shelby used a Taser on Crutcher, who was standing facing his vehicle.
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The police footage shows Mr Crutcher approaching the driver’s side of the SUV, then more officers walk up and he appears to lower his hands and place them on the vehicle.
Less than a week after an unarmed black man was shot dead by a white police officer on a Tulsa street, prosecutors charged the officer with first-degree manslaughter.
A police officer responsible for shooting an unarmed motorist to death in Oklahoma last week is now facing criminal charges.
Tulsa officer Betty Shelby was booked into the county jail early on Friday and released minutes later on bail.
According to The Washington Post, the news comes six days after Shelby murdered Crutcher beside his SUV, seconds after the victim was captured on video walking away from the officer with his hands raised. She faces a minimum four-year sentence, if convicted on the manslaughter count.
While it’s distressing to see yet another police shooting of an African American dominating headlines again, it’s crucial to keep this very important conversation active – hopefully much-needed progress in law enforcement and justice for the Crutcher family will follow.
However, it was not possible until a judge or jury determines, said Steve Kunzweiler, Tulsa County district attorney.
Shelby said she felt “threatened” by Crutcher and believed he was on the drug PCP.
An affidavit said Shelby became “emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted” on a Tulsa street while dealing with Crutcher, an unarmed black man, on September 16.
Attorneys for Ms. Shelby and Mr. Crutcher’s family couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
Mr Crutcher’s twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said her family welcomed the charge.
“I don’t know why things happen in this world the way they do”, he said.
According to the affidavit that prompted the arrest warrant, Shelby “reacted unreasonably by escalating” her interaction with Crutcher, “becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted”.
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According to the affidavit by the District Attorney’s chief investigator, Crutcher “was walking towards her and she went to him and asked him if the vehicle belonged to him and if it was disabled”.
