** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
In a press conference on Friday, the Fairbanks Police Department said prosecutors will not file criminal charges against FPD Sergeant Gregory Foster for fatal shooting James Robert Richards, Jr., 28, of Fairbanks. Richards was fatally shot in the summer of 2016 after he allegedly threatened people, fled from police, and took a hostage. In the press release issued by the Office of Special Prosecutions, officials investigating the actions of Foster say they did not aim to “determine if Sgt. Foster’s conduct was appropriate under any applicable use-of-force policy.” Instead, the inquiry was limited to a simple decision of whether or not criminal charges were appropriate. According to investigators, they are not. “At the time of the fatal shooting, Sgt. Foster reasonably believed that Mr. Richards was attempting to flee from a recently committed violent assault and while fleeing, had taken a hostage. Under these circumstances, criminal charges are not appropriate,” Supervising Assistant Attorney General Robert E. Henderson wrote in a statement.
The investigation summary reveals more details regarding the nature of the incident that led to Richards’ death, as well as includes multiple video sources showing the shooting itself. FPD said they were called on the scene after Richards assaulted (by “pistol whipping”) two residents, firing a bullet into the wall, and “demanding money and drugs.” He then walked away from the apartment, where FPD made contact with him. In the report, police say they called out to him several times, but he did not respond. Two officers fired their taser rounds at Richards, but neither were effective in stunning him. Police say the situation boiled to a head when Richards took the arm of an elderly man and continued to walk away, ignoring police orders to stop. Investigators say officers “believed that Mr. Richards was using the male as a human shield.” Solomon Roberts, the elderly man in question, later said he was not being pulled or threatened by Richards during the encounter.
At that point, Foster fired twice from his issued duty rifle. “Both rounds struck Mr. Richards in the head, fatal shooting him nearly instantaneously,” the statement said. Following the shooting, many in the community expressed concerns about the possibility of race playing a factor in the incident, as Richards was Alaska Native. At a memorial event shortly after, community members spoke out regarding that possibility. Ricko DeWilde, an organizer of the event, said the Native community has had a contentious relationship with the Fairbanks Police Department, and expressed frustration regarding the way in which the police force investigate themselves in cases of misconduct. “We sit back and wait for years for a thorough investigation that they conduct on themselves,†DeWilde said. “That makes zero sense to me. As a Native community we need to step forward and look into the issues and look into them closely.â€Â
To help alleviate these concerns, the investigation was carried out by a the Office of Special Prosecution. Additionally, FPD released dashboard camera footage and body camera footage, both displaying the events leading up to the shooting, as well as the shooting itself. In the video, Richards is seen positioned to the side of Roberts putting the man in between Richards and the officers on the street. Several officers can be seen following behind Richards, as well as Foster, who “took cover behind Deputy Chief Johnson’s patrol vehicle.” When Richards approaches the vehicle Foster is standing behind, he opens fire. The report concludes that based on Richards’ activity, as well as the information known to Foster at the time, Foster’s “actions, given the totality of the circumstances, were not objectively unreasonable.”
Donate to PoliceActivity: https://www.patreon.com/PoliceActivity
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoliceActivity
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Police_Activity
** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
TRADUCEN LO QUE LES COMBIENE Y ES TAN INDIGNANTE VER SIEMPRE POLICIAS CREYENDOCE CON EL PODER EN SUS MANOS DE DECIDIR QUIEN VIVE Y QUIEN MUERE QUIENES SE CREEN …DON TIPOS APUNTANDOLES CON UN ARMA CALIBRE LARGO A UN CIUDADANO DESRMADO PARA ESTAS IMAGENES SOLO HAY UN CALIFICATIVO …ASESINOS
Ah bedtime videos, for me, and for him. But I, get to wake up
I wish they would’ve shown the video but a headshot that close with a high caliber rifle his head probably exploded
The fact that they allowed him to even get close enough to a civilian in order to take a hostage is unacceptable
That was the nicest hostage taking I have ever seen.
This episode of PoliceActivity brought to you by Paco's Tacos
Correction, he had a hostage.
those cops should be fired for not exterminating this piece of shit and letting that hostage get taken.. jesus fuck this is the future, cops who are afraid to do their jobs and streets overrun by psychotic people who get out of prison in one day because of bail reform laws
Damn and that officer tried so hard to talk to him and just get him to drop the gun and talk, with that being said what a shot by that other officer precision
Another trump vote gone
If it was a black guy you guys would have been killed him🤷ðŸÂ»â€Â♂ï¸Â
Good bad guys down no more cop down
Nice one letting him get a fucking hostage
What a rip
That's why they shouldn't let these situation go on for so long before they use force. The longer it goes on, the more of a threat it becomes to the public. Put him on the ground before he has a chance to hurt somebody.
Why beg an armed perp and allow him to take a hostage? Just drop him after the third warning, this could have easily ended a lot worse.
Suspect does have a hostage. Oops, he did have a hostage. He's gone night night. ( I think they should say drop it 2 times then be able to exterminate the problem. Period )
Why does this video just stop?
HOW FUCKING STUPID OR DEAF YOU MUST BE TO SEE A BUNCH OF COPS YELLIN AT A GUY TO DROP HIS GUN AND YOU JUST STAND THERE TO LET HIM GRAB YOU, IM FUCKIN SHOOTIN THE HOSTAGE JUST ON PRINCIPLE
It was his time
Usually when a cop says: "it doesn't have to be like this"… it has to be like this.
All racial disputes and bullshit aside most cops are still people underneath and the average person doesn't want the weight and burden of taking another person's life It's so sad to watch this and know that too many cops have to make this decision
@1:25 “Yeah, let’s both tase him right in the book-bag!†😂 That was SOOOO effective lol.
"It's not the end of the world, all right?"
"Um… let me rephrase that…"
What's the bag! Drop your name!
What a shot… i guess? Didnt really show
John 9:39 (KJV) And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.