Craig Co. district attorney finds trooper-involved shooting in June justified

Craig Co. district attorney finds trooper-involved shooting in June justified

OF A TROOPER'S FATALSHOOTING OF A SUSPECT INJUNE.

THE CRAIG COUNTY D-ASAYS - THE TROOPER ACTEDAPPROPRIATELY WHEN HE SHOT ACONVICTED FELON DURING ATRAFFIC STOP.2 WORKS FOR YOU'S KATIEKELEHER TAKES US THROUGH THEVIDEO.

KATIE?CRAIG COUNTY DISTRICTATTORNEY MATT BALLARD SAYSHE WANTS TO BE TRANSPARENTABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THEWILL ROGERS TURNPIKE ON JUNE25-TH.

HE SAYS - AFTERREVIEWING THE EVIDENCE - THETROOPER WAS JUSTIFIED INSHOOTING AND KILLING ROBERTHARRIS.DISTRICT ATTORNEY MATTBALLARD WALKED 2 WORKS FORYOU THROUGH THE DASH CAMVIDEO - LEADING UP TO THESHOOTING.

HE SAYS TROOPERCALEB COLE PULLED THE CAROVER FOR A ROUTINE TRAFFICSTOP.

THE D-A SAYS COLESMELLED MARIJUANA IN THECAR.

HE SPOKE WITH THEFEMALE DRIVER - WHO HE ASKEDTO WAIT IN HIS PATROL CARWHILE HE TALKED TO HARRIS.06:15:08;02-06:15:15;45 MATTBALLARD, CRAIG COUNTYDISTRICT ATTORNEY "Mr.Harris appeared verynervous.

His pulse wasrapid.

He was staringstraight ahead, wasn'tacknowledging the trooper."THE DASH CAM VIDEO DOESN'THAVE AUDIO - AND THERE'S NOBODY CAM FOOTAGE FROM THETROOPER.

THE VIDEO SHOWSCOLE WALKING UP TO THE CAR.ACCORDING TO THE D-A'SREPORT - COLE ASKED HARRISTO STEP OUT OF THE CAR - ANDTURN AROUND TO PAT HIM DOWN.THE VIDEO SHOWS HARRISSITTING BACK DOWN IN THECAR.

THE REPORT ALSO SAYSHARRIS WAS HOLDING A CELLPHONE, CIGARS AND POSSIBLY AWALLET.

THE D-A SAYS HARRISPLACED THOSE ITEMS IN HISLAP WHEN HE SAT DOWN - ANDREACHED BEHIND HIS BACK.06:20:24;15-06:20:42;03 MATTBALLARD, CRAIG COUNTYDISTRICTATTORNEY "What leads him todraw his weapon is, he thensees Mr. Harris place hishands behind his back wherehe can't see them.

And hesays he leans up like he'strying to create space andbegins looking like he'smanipulating some objectbehind his back out of viewof the trooper." THE D-ASAYS AFTER THE TROOPER DREWHIS WEAPON - HE ASKEDHARRIS TO SHOW HIM HISHANDS.

HE SAYS HARRISBRINGS HIS HANDS AROUND -HOLDING A BLACK OBJECT.WHICH IS WHEN COLE FIRES.COLE SAYS HE THEN SAW THEOBJECT FLY OUT OF HARRIS'HAND.

A GUN WAS FOUND BEHINDHARRIS' SEAT.

LATER -COCAINE WAS FOUND IN HARRISPOCKET.

P-C-P WAS ALSOFOUND IN HIS SYSTEM.ACCORDING TO THE D-A -THEFEMALE DRIVER SAYS SHENEVER KNEW THERE WAS A GUNIN THE CAR.

THE REPORT ALSOSAYS - SHE TOLD OTHERS THETROOPER DID NOTHING WRONG.BALLARD SAYS THIS IS ATRAGIC SITUATION FOREVERYONE - BUT TROOPER COLEDID HIS JOB.06:34:47;30-06:35:03;30 MATTBALLARD, CRAIG COUNTYDISTRICT ATTORNEY "It'scertainly very difficult forthis family.

I feel for hisfamily.

At the same time,this trooper had every rightto go home safe.

And whenhe's confronted with aconvicted felon in illegalpossession of a firearm, hehas to do what he has to doto make it home safe to hisfamily."WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THELAWYER REPRESENTING THEHARRIS FAMILY - BUT HAVE NOTHEARD BACK.

KATIE KELEHER,2 WORKS FOR YOU.TODAY... TULSA POLICESHARING THIS NEW V