Cop Charged With Manslaughter In Hasbrouck Heights Man's Death

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ — A Pennsylvania police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of a New Jersey man who was fatally shot across the street from Dorney Park July 28.

South Whitehall Police Officer Jonathan Robert Roselle, 33, was charged with voluntary manslaughter after he fatally shot Joseph Santos, 44, near the 3700 block of Hamilton Boulevard across from Dorney Park, said Leigh County District Attorney James Martin at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Martin previously said Santos was "acting irrationally" before he was shot.

Several people called 911 after they allegedly observed Santos jumping onto cars. Authorities previously said that Santos ripped a window off a woman's vehicle and then jumped on the hood of another, authorities previously said.

Roselle has been placed on administrative leave, Martin said.

Martin said Tuesday that authorities have reviewed video from a police vehicle's dashboard camera and a body camera as part of the investigation.

When Roselle encountered him, Santos walked toward him. Santos did not have anything visible in his hands and "did not present a threatening posture," Martin said.

Santos can be heard on video saying to Roselle, who had his gun unholstered and pointed at Santos "don't do it," Martin said.

Roselle was not at risk of any serious bodily injury or death and Santos had no deadly weapons on him, Martin said.

Roselle had the option to engage Santos physically and had a taser, pepper spray, and baton on him, all of which were functioning, Martin said.

Santos being shot was an "unreasonable decision" by a "relatively inexperienced officer," Martin said.

Roselle was graduated from the police academy after 13 weeks of training and had been on patrol by himself for less than five months when the incident occurred. He is a major in the U.S. National Guard and an Army veteran who served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, the district attorney said.

Bail was set at $75,000, unsecured, court documents show. Roselle was scheduled to be arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Faulkner Tuesday afternoon. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

Video emerged last week allegedly showing what happened before Santos was shot and may have caused Roselle to act.

Facebook user Nadia Elizabeth posted video showing Santos allegedly jumping onto cars, including a police vehicle. (See Related: Video Shows What Led To NJ Man's Fatal Death-By-Cop Near Dorney)

"I witnessed Joseph Santos act like a complete maniac and scare the lives of those behind the wheel," Nadia Elizabeth wrote on her Facebook page, noting that she provided the videos to authorities. "I was one of the many people who contacted the authorities to report this man. He didn’t exit the park like a rational member of society but more of that of a criminal that was up to no good. I understand that those who are grieving want to demonize this officer whom was simply doing his job."

Elizabeth said she posted the videos to show another side of the story after Santos' family insinuated that race played a role in Santos's death, Patch previously reported.

"As police officers, we are held accountable for our actions," South Whitehall Police Chief Glen Dorney said Tuesday. "I know this decision does not bring closure to his family, but it may begin to."

Related: Hasbrouck Heights Man Fatally Shot By Cops Near Dorney Park

Photo courtesy of Nadia Elizabeth