Dash Camera Video is Released of the Scene of the Alleged Police-Involved Fatal Shooting of James Hartsfield in Little Rock, Arkansas
On October 7, 2017, an off-duty police officer with the Little Rock, Arkansas Police Department encountered 28-year-old James Hartsfield. She said that he appeared to be driving while drinking an alcoholic beverage. She pulled Hartsfield over, and other officers arrived at the scene. A dashboard video, which has just been released, shows the struggle between the female officer and Hartsfield. The officer was inside the vehicle when Hartsfield took off. The dashcam video also shows the immediate aftermath of a car crash in which Hartsfield struck a wall with his 2004 Mercedes-Benz. The officer is seen thrown to the street after the crash. Before the crash occurred, the officer allegedly shot and killed Hartsfield.
During the intense encounter, before Hartsfield took off with the officer inside, another officer also struggled with him. A male officer can be seen on the video attempting to pull Hartsfield from the car through the driver-side window. The car moves forward, moves off-camera, and three gunshots can be heard. Seconds later, there is the sound of a crash in the distance.
The female officer reported to authorities that she had her weapon drawn but re-holstered it and used an electronic weapon on Hartsfield but it seemed to have no effect. She says that she then removed her gun from the holster for a second time. She says when she allegedly fired her weapon that she feared not only for her life but also for the people on the lot nearby, which was a parking lot for a bar and grill.
The prosecutor’s office in Pulaski County cleared the female officer of criminal wrongdoing in the alleged fatal police-involved shooting of Hartsfield.
In Arkansas, the law states that a law enforcement officer is justified in the use of deadly force if it is to defend herself or another person from what can reasonably be considered the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.
Spokesperson Lt. Michael Ford of Little Rock stated earlier in 2018 that Hartsfield died from being shot, not as a result of the crash.
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