Dallas Police Officer Fired For Shooting Mentally Ill Man

Dallas Police officer Cardan Spencer was terminated for shooting an unarmed mentally ill man. In an official report, Spencer said 52-year-old Bobby Gerald Bennett lunged at him with a weapon. A video of the incident revealed that Spencer falsified the report.

In the video, it is apparent that Bennett was disturbed. However, he never lunged toward the officers and he was not in possession of a weapon. Bennett was standing completely still when Spencer shot him.

After Bennett fell to the ground, he was charged with aggravated assault.

As reported by ABC News, the incident was captured on a neighbor’s surveillance camera. The footage was posted online, drawing stark criticism from viewers. The public outcry prompted Dallas Police Chief David Brown to drop the charges against Bennett and place Cardan Spencer on leave.

The Dallas Police officer was eventually terminated at a disciplinary hearing. Chief Brown spoke at a news conference following the hearing, stating that Spencer was fired for “violating the Department’s Deadly Force Policy and Patrol SOP regarding Mentally Ill Persons.” The former officer was also charged with felony aggravated assault.

Spencer’s former partner, Officer Christopher Watson, is also under investigation for making false statements in the official report.

As reported by NBC News, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings supports the chief’s decision:

“… Dallas has one of the best departments in the country. We must keep it pure of any perceptions of wrongdoing, and that’s exactly what Chief Brown has done by handling this investigation thoroughly and expediently.”

Bobby Gerald Bennett suffers from several mental conditions, including Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The police were called to the home by his mother, who said he was unstable and in possession of a knife. She explained to the 911 operator that her son is mentally ill.

Bennett was critically injured by former Dallas Police officer Cardan Spencer. He remains hospitalized in serious condition.

[Image via Flickr]