A grand jury investigation finds a Pennsylvania State Trooper justified in shooting and injuring a Dauphin County man in June. According to the report Trooper Michael Trotta was investigating an incident in West Hanover Township when he was approached by a drunk and disorderly man with a gun.
The report shows that Trooper Trotta was justified in shooting David Ricker because Ricker pointed an assault rifle at Trotta. Besides the findings, the jury recommends that all police agencies in Dauphin County as well as Pennsylvania State Police use body cameras. The jury states in this case it would have been valuable to the investigation.
According to the report, Trotta was investigating a report of a person driving over a mailbox near a home in the 7000 block of Green Hill Road in West Hanover Township. That's when he was confronted by a "drunk and disorderly man," David Ricker. Trotta testified that Ricker was agitated and yelling at him. He says at one point Ricker pushed on the driver's side door telling him to get off his property. Trotta then tried to taser Ricker but the taser malfunctioned.
The report states Ricker pulled a small pistol from his waist and pointed it in the air then retreated to his garage. Shortly after that another state trooper arrived on scene. Trotta then saw Ricker holding an assault rifle and peeking around the edge of the garage door at the other trooper. The report states that's when Trotta pointed his gun at Ricker and yelled for him to drop the gun. In response, Ricker raised the rifle and pointed it in the direction of Trotta. Trotta then fired at Ricker striking him, Ricker fired back, hitting Trotta four times with the rifle. Trotta suffered serious injuries as a result.
The grand jury says Trotta's actions were justified and it made a request for all police agencies in Dauphin County to wear body cameras.
"This report encourages the police to use it so that it protects both the public and the police from false accusations," says Fran Chardo, First Assistant District Attorney for Dauphin County.
Chardo says advocates for privacy and police are in favor of the cameras because it protects both sides. He says it would have helped in this investigation.
"There were discrepancies between witness accounts where it would have been helpful to have the recording of the audio interaction between Mr. Ricker and the trooper," says Chardo.
Chardo says Pennsylvania State Police is in the process of acquiring body cameras. He expects troopers to use them sometime beginning in the next 6 months. As for Trooper Trotta, he's expected to return to light duty soon.
