ST. CHARLES, Mo. (KMOX) - Investigators are seeking a second video in the case of a Florissant Police officer accused of striking a man with his SUV who was trying to run away.
On Monday, St. Charles County prosecutor Tim Lomar says the problem is that the moment of impact is blocked from view. He hopes the second video will help "shed some light" on the case.
"What I can say is, what I've seen so far doesn't look good," Lomar says.
Video of the incident involving a Florissant officer happened around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in the north St. Louis County neighborhood of Dellwood. Video from a doorbell camera caught it and then was shared on Facebook.
"The only instance, as far as I'm concerned, where an officer is justified in using potentially deadly force by using a motor vehicle is if that officer's life is or physical health or that of another is in question," Lomar says.
Lohmar says the three men ran from police after officers pulled the car over. He says the car matched the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with a shots fired incident. He also says police failed to report any use of force in the original report.
Lohmar was asked to handle the case by St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, because Bell has a potential conflict of interest.
The detective from Florissant was suspended after Florissant Police Chief Tim Fagan saw the video. The detective is a 9-year veteran of the force and had no previous incidents that required an outside investigation, Fagan said. Two other officers who were there have also been put on leave pending the investigation.