The National Guard has been called in to try to a head off a third night of violence.
Advertisement
The possible penalty for conviction on first-degree manslaughter in Oklahoma is four years to life, according to district attorney spokeswoman Susan Witt.
“Today, we are thankful to TPD, we are thankful to (police) Chief (Chuck) Jordan for providing information to the District Attorney’s office, and we are happy that charges were brought”, attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said during a news conference.
Police say a vial of the drug PCP was found in the vehicle.
Mr Crutcher’s twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said her family welcomed the charge.
This case is being followed by many over the apparent meting out of “speedy justice”.
“While we are pleased to learn the officer who senselessly killed by beloved twin brother will face criminal charges for her reckless act, we understand nothing will bring him back”, Crutcher said.
The police use of force against black men has for two years been the subject of protests across the U.S., and now it has also become an election issue.
Shelby, 42, killed Terence Crutcher, 40, after his SUV stopped in the middle of a two-lane roadway last week. Some cars honked as they drove past the peaceful protest. “She knew that the vehicle had been cleared and it’s evident, from the photograph and the video, that the window was all the way up”.
“Officer Shelby reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation”, prosecutors said in a court affidavit.
At that point, Crutcher walked toward his vehicle with his hands up and did not respond to Shelby’s commands for him to stop.
Earlier this year, a former volunteer deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Eric Harris.
“Although she is charged, she is presumed innocent until a judge or jury determines otherwise”, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler told reporters after an investigation in which more than 50 people were questioned.
Bartlett said – in his words – “These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails”.
“We will continue to be transparent and ensure the system carries out its responsibility to provide justice”.
This undated file photo provided by the Tulsa Oklahoma Police Department shows officer Betty Shelby. Then Shelby fired at Crutcher, whose left hand was not clearly in view.
Advertisement
The affidavit says she told homicide investigators “she was in fear for her life and thought Mr Crutcher was going to kill her”. He stood beside his driver’s side window as several police officers stood behind him with their weapons raised. Forty-year-old Terence Crutcher, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot Friday by a white, Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer. In this photo made from a September 16, 2016 police video, Terence Crutcher, left, with his arms up is pursued by police officers as he walks next to his stalled SUV moments before he was shot and killed by one of the offi.
