“HE CHARGED AT ME WHILE SCREAMING AND YELLING”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PROSECUTORS SAY PENNSYLVANIA POLICE CPL. SEAN FARRELL SHOT AN UNARMED 22-YEAR-OLD TWICE IN THE CHEST BEFORE HE EVEN FINISHED HIS WARNING… AND THE 58-YEAR-OLD OFFICER NOW FACES A VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE AFTER HIS OWN BODY CAMERA CONTRADICTED HIS CLAIMS.
A Pennsylvania police officer is facing a criminal charge after prosecutors concluded that his account of a fatal encounter was allegedly contradicted by his own body-camera footage.
Cpl. Sean Farrell, 58, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting.
The criminal charge follows the August 23 death of 22-year-old Glen Pysher IV.
According to prosecutors, Pysher had spent time drinking with friends before the incident occurred.
A designated driver subsequently took Pysher home.
Pysher later attempted to walk from his home to the residence of another friend.
That walk was an estimated distance of approximately half a mile.
But authorities say the 22-year-old apparently became confused along the way.
He went to the wrong residence.
When Pysher arrived at that location, he began banging on the home’s back door.
The homeowners called 911 in response to the banging.
Farrell was reportedly the first police officer to arrive at the scene.
Investigators say Farrell approached the property with his service weapon already drawn.
He then positioned himself behind a vehicle.
What happened next between the officer and the young man was captured on body camera.
According to prosecutors, the footage shows Pysher with his hands raised.
Farrell ordered Pysher to get on the ground.
Pysher did not comply with that command from the officer.
Instead, he continued walking toward Farrell.
Farrell then allegedly began issuing a warning to him.
“Stop, or I’ll…” the officer said.
But prosecutors say the officer fired his weapon before completing the sentence.
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Pysher was struck twice in the chest.
Authorities say Pysher was still approximately 17 to 20 feet away from Farrell when the officer fired.
Pysher was also unarmed.
After the shooting occurred, Farrell was allegedly recorded describing a much more aggressive encounter.
The officer allegedly claimed that Pysher had “charged” him.
Farrell also alleged that Pysher was screaming and yelling as he did so.
Yet Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said investigators reviewing the body-camera recording did not see Pysher charging Farrell.
Investigators also reportedly did not hear Pysher screaming or yelling on the recording.
Prosecutors additionally noted that Farrell had other options available to him during the encounter.
He had less-lethal options available at the scene.
Those less-lethal options included a Taser.
They also included an expandable baton.
Steele and investigators reviewed the evidence gathered from the incident.
After reviewing the evidence, Steele concluded that the circumstances did not legally justify the use of deadly force.
“Mr. Pysher was not a threat,” Steele said.
Farrell subsequently surrendered to detectives.
He was formally charged with voluntary manslaughter.
His bail was set at 10% of $75,000.
Under the conditions of his release, Farrell must surrender all weapons before being released.
Farrell has been charged, not convicted.
The allegations against him must still be proven in court.
He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
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