No charges for officer who shot, killed unarmed man in Glendale
GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — The officer responsible for shooting and killing a man at a Glendale park in January will face no charges.
On April 16, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) told the Peoria Police Department that they wouldn’t be pressing charges against the officer. After reviewing the case, MCAO concluded that there’s no reasonable chance of convicting the officer.
Peoria PD handled the investigation, as is typical for another policing agency to investigate officer-involved shootings.
RELATED: Criminologist explains investigation into Glendale police shooting unarmed man
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on Jan. 8 at Horizon Park. Officers said they mistook the victim for an armed suspect from a domestic violence call in the area of 47th Avenue and Glendale Avenue.
The victim, later identified as 46-year-old Dillon Siebeck from Tucson, died at the scene. No guns were found on Siebeck or in the park, police said.
Michael Gennaco, a former federal prosecutor and a police practice expert, said the footage raises some questions.
“The video excerpts are highly edited, so it’s really hard to know what is missing and what they chose to include,” he said.
Gennaco said the officer negotiating with Siebeck did not seem to perceive him as a threat and sounded surprised when another officer fired their weapon. He also noted that the negotiator was communicating with Siebeck.
In the video, an armed officer can be seen moving in front of the police car, Gennaco said. “That is inconsistent with officer safety. When you put yourself in a position of vulnerability and no longer have cover time or distance to your advantage, it puts you in a vulnerable position.”
The legal team, Romanucci & Blandin and Glen Lerner, representing Dillon’s family, shared the following statement:
“All too often, police officers in this country are not criminally charged, even for serious wrongdoing that leaves an innocent person dead. Dillon Siebeck was unarmed and posed no threat when he was killed by the Glendale police. Mr. Siebeck should be alive today. The legal team representing his family remains fiercely committed to civil justice in his name. Let us be clear: There should be no implication from the prosecutors’ decision that the officers involved are absolved of responsibility or cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Glendale PD said the officer involved will remain on administrative assignment until their internal investigation is complete.
The department said they hold themselves to a high standard, which includes strictly following policies and procedures. Depending on the results of the internal investigation, the officer could face disciplinary action from the city, including being fired.
“We thank the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the Peoria Police Department for conducting a thorough criminal investigation and review of this incident. As members of the West Valley Incident Response Team, Glendale remains committed to ensuring fair, impartial investigations and complete transparency with our community.”
For more information on this incident from Glendale Police, click/tap here.
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