Family Of Bergen Man Shot By PA Cop Might File Lawsuit: Report

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ — The family of a borough man who authorities said was shot and killed by a Pennsylvania police officer is considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit as support for the officer grows.

Back the Blue, a grassroots group that supports law enforcement officers, will host a rally backing South Whitehall Police Officer Jonathan Roselle Sunday on Hamilton Boulevard near Dorney Park where Joseph Santos was shot, WFMZ in Pennsylvania reported. Roselle, 33, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in Santos' death.

Arelene Figueroa, the mother of one of Santos' children, said Roselle was "trigger happy," and could not understand why he, a rookie cop who was on patrol alone, was not working with a partner, when Santos, 44, was shot, The Morning Call reported.

Figueroa and her attorney, Robert Eyre, spoke moments after Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin Tuesday announced his decision to charge Roselle. Martin said the killing was "unjustified," something Eyre said was "a step in the right direction," according to The Morning Call.

Funeral arrangements for Santos have not been finalized yet, but Figueroa said they must have a closed casket because a bullet disfigured Santos' face, The Morning Call reported.

Santos had been "acting irrationally" before Roselle shot him, Martin said at a press conference Tuesday.

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.

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

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

Roselle was graduated from the Allentown Police Academy and was sworn in as an officer in December. He had been on patrol, alone, for less than five months, when he shot Santos.

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:

• Cop Charged With Manslaughter In Hasbrouck Heights Man's Death
• Hasbrouck Heights Man Fatally Shot By Cops Near Dorney Park

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: South Whitehall Police Officer Jonathan Robert Roselle (South Whitehall Police Department)