PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The former Philadelphia police officer convicted of killing an unarmed man in 2017 has been released after serving several months behind bars.
Eric Ruch was convicted in September 2022 of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Dennis Plowden. He was sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in prison but had already spent some months behind bars.
In December 2017, Plowden crashed his car in Ogontz after a brief chase. He was sitting on a sidewalk when officers said he refused to comply with their orders to raise both of his hands.
Ruch shot Plowden in the head because he said he believed Plowden had a gun in his pocket and intended to shoot him. Investigators later determined Plowden was unarmed.
Ruch’s attorney asked the court for immediate parole based on good behavior and time served, which the judge granted — against arguments from prosecutors, who maintain Ruch should have spent more time in prison.
An appeal of Ruch’s conviction remains in Superior Court.