Police Commissioner 'Concerned' About Tactics At Overbrook Fatal Shooting Scene
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police Commissioner Richard Ross says he's "concerned," about tactics used by officers in an incident that ended with the fatal shooting of a driver in Overbrook early Wednesday morning.
Police say the driver of a van, identified as 52-year-old Richard Ferretti of Andreas, Pa.,was fatally wounded by a police officer after he allegedly "proceeded to drive toward the plain-clothes officer's direction," after officers had tried to stop and question him.
Police say they responded to the area of 63rd and Overbrook Avenue after receiving a call that a van was circling the block, its driver acting suspiciously, around 1:00 a.m.
Investigators say an officer fired four shots, one striking Ferretti in the chest. After he was shot, his van, police say, struck several cars before coming to rest.
Police Commissioner Richard Ross says the department has strict policies banning officers from firing into vehicles unless their lives are in danger. The officer involved,who Ross confirmed had been dragged down the street by a suspect in a car he was trying to stop several months ago, and had recently returned to work, has now been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the department's preliminary investigation.
The results of this investigation will then be turned over to the District Attorney's Office to determine if the shooting was justified.