CMPD Officer Charged With Death By Vehicle In Fatal Accident

CHARLOTTE, NC– “This is not easy, but it’s the right thing to do, we always talk about accountability and true to form we’re going to hold ourselves accountable,” said CMPD Chief Kerr Putney.

Which is why Chief Kerr Putney says CMPD made the tough decision to charge 24-year old rookie Officer Phillip Barker with Misdemeanor Death by Vehicle for hitting and killing 28-year-old James Short early Saturday morning.

“The major issue we have right now is Officer Barker was traveling at approx 100 miles per hour,” said Putney.

On a 35 mile per hour city street. Police say Officer Barker had his blue lights on, responding to a crash on East Morehead and had a green light. Meanwhile Short was walking against a red light at Morehead and Euclid when Barker hit him.

“The compelling evidence here was even with all the mitigating factors we couldn’t overcome the speed and lack of due regard for the safety of others,” said Putney.

Putney says he feels for both families, whose lives have been changed forever.

“This is a mistake of the head though, not of the heart, the Officer had the right intentions but sometimes with youth you don’t have the experience, you don’t have the knowledge you don’t have the time,” said Putney.

Putney says this case hits hard.

“Anybody could make a mistake like this whose a young officer and this is a pretty stiff penalty to have to pay for such a mistake,” said Putney.