Dallas police officer on leave after firing at unarmed man
DALLAS - The Dallas police chief says he has some serious concerns after one of his officers fired at an unarmed man in Far East Dallas last Thursday.
Nobody got hurt when the officer opened fire on a man in a parking lot, but the police chief questions whether proper protocols were followed.
For context, the shooting has not really been publicly talked about until Wednesday. There’s been no protest or complaints across social media, Chief Eddie Garcia felt he needed to release the body camera footage in an effort of transparency.
Dallas Police Officer Branson Grisham arrived to a scene where 911 callers reported a group of men in a parking lot drinking. At least one of them reportedly fired a gun into the air and pointing it at a 911 caller on Sept. 2.
The officer approached and called out to someone matching the description of the alleged gunman. That man ran. Less than 10 seconds later, Grisham fired his gun at him.
No one was hurt. Police never found a gun.
The 59-year-old in the orange shirt who Officer Grisham fired at was interviewed and was never charged with a crime.
Chief Garcia says Officer Grisham is now on leave and is the subject of an internal investigation.
"And pending the outcome of that investigation, I will take whatever action I deem is appropriate," the chief said.
The case is also being sent to a grand jury to decide if criminal charges are warranted against the officer.
"I’ve sat in front here and defended my men and women, and I will defend them to the hill when I believe they’re right," Garcia said.
But the chief says what’s shown on this body camera footage raises serious concerns.
"That credibility has to work both ways," he said.
It happened near the intersection of Ferguson and Oates in Far East Dallas. People in the area tell FOX 4 there’s a lot of crime, and people are regularly causing trouble in this alley.
Dwayne Hilton works nearby. He says people frequently call the police. He was around the corner when the officer fired his gun.
"Pulls up over there, and I heard the gunshot," he recalled.
Chief Garcia says Officer Grisham has a clean file.
"For all I have seen on paper, he’s an exceptional police officer," Garcia said.
Garcia understands the risks his officers face daily, including situations with reports of gunfire.
"911 calls about an individual with a gun, shooting the gun in the air, about an indivisible who had a gun pointed at someone, that’s in the mindset of all our officers," he said.
But speaking in general terms, Garcia says officers are trained to, if possible, take their time, use distance and cover. What’s seen on the video questions if that happened.
"We’re at a critical point in this police department where we’re going on a very large hiring push," Garcia said. "And if there’s ever time to set a standard, it is now."
The Dallas Police Association says it is not commenting at this time.