Chief Isaac says officer's decision to shoot suspect was 'not appropriate'

Shooting a suspect in the back outside a Colerain Township gas station was “definitely not an appropriate use of force” for the officer who pulled the trigger Tuesday, police Chief Eliot Isaac said in a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

Officer John Brown, a plainclothes investigator with the Cincinnati Police Department’s violent crimes unit, claimed it was an accident.

LLINTRO:I'M RAVEN RICHARD-ANACCIDENT, IS HOW THECINCINNATI POLICE CHIEFDESCRIBES AN OFFICER SHOOTINGA MAN IN THE BACK TUESDAYAFTERNOON AT A COLERAINTOWNSHIP GAS STATION.

PKG:THERE ARE LIMITED VIDEO ANDSTATEMENTS FROM WITNESSES ANDOFFICERS.

BUT CINCINNATIPOLICE CHIEF ELIOT ISAAC SAYSOFFICER JOHN BROWN SHOOTING 37-YEAR-OLD ANDRE THOMAS IN THEBACK WAS (CHIEF ELIOT ISAAC-CINCINNATI POLICE DEPT)"definitely not an appropriateuse of force"CHIEF ISAAC SAYSIT STARTED IN MOUNT AIRYTUESDAY AFTERNOON WHEN PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS SAW WHAT THEYBELIEVED TO BE A DRUG EXCHANGEINVOLVING THOMAS.

(CHIEF ELIOTISAAC- CINCINNATI POLICE DEPT)"The district 5 violent crimesquad officers radioed foruniform officers to respond inan attempt to stop the vehicle"THOMAS STOPPED AT A SHELL GASSTATION IN COLERAIN TOWNSHIP.THAT'S WHEN OFFICERS BOXED HIMIN.

(CHIEF ELIOT ISAAC-CINCINNATI POLICE DEPT)"As theofficers approached, Mr.Thomas exited his vehicle andattempted to run past theofficers that surrounded him."AN OFFICER TASED THOMAS(CHIEFELIOT ISAAC- CINCINNATI POLICEDEPT)"Within a second orseconds, the gun shot wasfired" OFFICER BROWN FIREDTHAT SHOT AFTER HE TRIED TOGRAB THE SUSPECT.

(CHIEF ELIOTISAAC- CINCINNATI POLICE DEPT)"As he fell to the ground orfell on top of the individual,he discharged a round and itstruck Mr. Thomas in the back."ISAAC SAYS BROWN ALREADY HADHIS GUN PULLED OUT WHEN HEINITIALLY APPROACHED THOMAS'CAR BUT DID NOT PLACE IT BACKIN THE HOLSTER.

(CHIEF ELIOTISAAC- CINCINNATI POLICE DEPT)"In an attempt to holster hisweapon he did not completethat, continued to try toapprehend the individual whilehis firearm was drawn."LLTAG:THOMAS IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER.OFFICER BROWN IS ONADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

THEHAMILTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR'SOFFICE WILL INVESTIGATE THEOFFICER'S ACTIONS.

THERE WILLALSO BE AN INTERNAL REVIEW ANDA REVIEW BY THE CITIZENCOMPLAINT AUTHORITY.

ATDISTRICT 5 IN CINCINNATI,RAVEN RICHARD, WCPO NINE NEWS