South Whitehall police officer faces voluntary manslaughter charge in fatal shooting

South Whitehall police officer faces voluntary manslaughter charge in fatal shooting

VIDEO: Officer charged with voluntary manslaughter

69 News

69 News

69 News

69 News

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The South Whitehall Township police officer involved in the fatal shooting in South Whitehall Township will face a charge of voluntary manslaughter, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Officer Jonathan Roselle, 33, was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in the death of Joseph Santos, 44.

Santos was shot by Roselle near Dorney Park on Saturday, July 28, after police received several calls about a man jumping on and damaging cars.

Cell phone video shows Santos, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, jumping on cars.

At one point, he is seen hanging onto the driver's side window of a vehicle as it drives down Hamilton Boulevard.

Another cell phone clip shows Santos talking to a police officer at the scene. Santos walks away from the patrol car, but then heads toward the officer.

The officer can be heard yelling "get on the ground" several times but Santos continues walking. The officer fires what appears to be five shots.

Santos was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

The following Wednesday, a large group of people gathered near the scene of the shooting with signs to protest Santos' death and what they say was police brutality.

The Santos family joined the protest, saying the shooting was unjustifiable.

A smaller group of counter protesters also gathered at the same site in support of police.

Pennsylvania State Police investigated the shooting but it was ultimately Martin's decision whether the shooting was justified.

Martin said Santos was walking, not rushing, and did not seem to present a threatening posture. Santos was also unarmed, Martin said he had no shoes and was heard saying to Roselle to “not do it.”

Martin admitted that even though Santos refused to comply with the officer’s demands to “get down,” there was no way an objective viewing of the scene could suggest Roselle was in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

"Although not necessary to the making of the system, Roselle could have engaged Santos physically and he was also equipped with a baton, pepper spray, and a tazer," Martin added.

Martin made another point to say that in the immediate aftermath of the incident, Roselle stated to the first responding officer that he thought he "f***** up."

After Martin's press conference, Make the Road PA, an organization that focuses on social justice in the Latino communities, made a statement regarding Roselle's indictment.

Director Adanjesús Marín said Roselle's indictment is one step on the road to justice.

"While the indictment is important, we know that many police are indicted but not found guilty and as a community we demand that all necessary resources be provided to ensure a conviction," Marín said.

Roselle’s attorney, Gavin P. Holihan, issued a statement regarding the announcement, published in full below:

“Officer Jonathan Roselle has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for the July 28, 2018 death of Joseph Santos.

While the loss of a life is always unfortunate, it is not always unjustified. Police officers face challenges every shift that may require split second decisions. Those decisions are then calmly reviewed, with 20/20 hindsight, by the criminal justice system, those in political office, the media and the public.

Officer Roselle believes now, as he did on July 28, that his actions were justified and appropriate based on the facts and circumstances evident at the time. He respects the system of justice he has sworn to uphold and he eagerly awaits the opportunity to be heard at trial. He believes that when all of the evidence is presented publicly, any fair citizen will reach the same conclusion he reached: that the deadly force used on July 28 was justified and appropriate.”