NJ Cop Indicted For Manslaughter Has A History Of Prematurely Drawing His Gun: Lawsuit

MANTUA, NJ — An officer recently indicted for fatally shooting a South Jersey civilian had a history of prematurely drawing his firearm, according to a lawsuit filed May 31 against Mantua officials.

The complaint comes from the estate of Charles Sharp III, who Mantua Police Officer Salvatore Oldrati killed on Sept. 14, 2021, after Sharp called 911, according to investigating authorities. A state grand jury indicted Oldrati on May 23 for manslaughter.

• Read more: NJ Officer Indicted In 2021 Shooting Of Homeowner Who Called 911

Kathleen Burgo, the mother of Sharp's child, sued on the minor's behalf. The defendants in the lawsuit — filed in Gloucester County Superior Court — include Oldrati, Mantua Township and the township's police department.

Mantua officials declined to comment, as the lawsuit represents active litigation, Township Administrator Jennica Bileci told Patch via email.

According to the complaint, Oldrati had "a propensity of prematurely drawing his service weapon," which the Mantua Township Police Department was aware of before Sharp's death. On prior occasions, fellow officers saw Oldrati use his weapon "in an over-reactive way" and heard him brag about using the firearm, the lawsuit claims.

Hours before killing Sharp, Oldrati was overheard on the police radio threatening to shoot a barking dog, the complaint states. A supervisor told Oldrati not to shoot the dog and to refrain from further action until the supervisor arrived at the scene, according to the lawsuit.

Sharp had made an early-morning 911 call, reporting potential intruders on his property, the lawsuit says. The Mantua homeowner informed the dispatch officer that he attempted to dissuade the burglars from returning, but they came back, according to the complaint. He also told the police representative on the call that he had a replica handgun "willed" to him by his father.

Oldrati and another officer came to Sharp's home. Sharp was holding the replica gun but never raised or brandished it, the lawsuit says. Oldrati was the only officer named in the lawsuit.

When police arrived, Oldrati and the other officer shared the following exchange, according to the civil suit:

Oldrati: "Where at?"
Unidentified officer: "He's got a hand gun (sic) on him. Right there!"*
Oldrati: "Where?"
Unidentified officer: "Right there!"

*The lawsuit states that the unnamed officer said "words to the effect of" that statement.

The other officer then began to tell Sharp, "put the gun down," the lawsuit says. But before that cop could finish the statement, Oldrati shot Sharp 13 times, according to court documents.

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General identified the other officer as Cpl. Robert Layton, who didn't fire his weapon and has not been charged. The AG's office spearheads investigations into deaths that occur during police encounters or while a person is in custody.

The grand jury charged Oldrati with one count of manslaughter. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and would need to serve 85 percent of the sentence before parole eligibility.

In the civil case, the plaintiffs seek unspecified damages.