Family Of Man Killed By Pineville Police Speaks Out

CHARLOTTE -Cleopatra Bodden’s son, her only child, was killed nearly three weeks ago.

“They did not see Dennis as a human being, but as someone that could be discarded,” she said.

Dennis Bodden was shot and killed by Pineville police officers in May. Bodden was accused of shoplifting from the Food lion on Johnston Road. Police say he resisted when they showed up, which escalated into a physical altercation. Bodden then ran across the street to an apartment complex. When police followed, they say there was another physical altercation. That’s when the officer fired, killing Bodden.

Bodden’s family said in Monday’s press conference, there is more to this story.

“Dennis was suffering from a dual diagnosis of bipolar schizophrenia,” said his mother saying his illness got worse over the past year.

“His mental illness was never mentioned in their well-crafted press release and their interaction with the media.”

The police department released a statement after the family’s news conference. They wrote in part, “The officers involved were not aware of Mr. Dennis Bodden’s history of mental illness.”

Bodden’s family disagrees.

“The Pineville Police Department knew of his illness. They knew of that,” said his aunt, Julia Bodden.

Pineville Police do not have a mental health unit. The department says the two officers involved do have de-escalation training.

The family says they have been contacted by high profile civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, and they do want to file a lawsuit.