GLENDALE, Colo. (KDVR) — Two members of Glendale Police Department that were involved in a Halloween night shooting in 2020 have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
A review, led by Denver’s District Attorney Beth McCann, concluded that officers Neal McCormick and Chandler Philips, who were both involved in the killing of John Pacheaco, were justified in their actions, according to a release announcing the decision.
Police say that on the night of Oct. 31, 2020, John Pacheaco was blocking traffic, having parked his vehicle in a lane on South Colorado Boulevard, when the two officers attempted to talk to him.
“When officers tried to speak with Mr. Pacheaco, he unexpectedly put the truck in reverse as an officer was running behind the truck, clipping the officer and almost pinning him between the truck and a police car when these officers discharged their firearms,” McCann said in the release.
“At the moment they shot Mr. Pacheaco, these officers reasonably believed that their fellow officers were in danger of being killed or receiving serious bodily injury,” the release states.
The decision letter was sent to Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen and Glendale Police Chief W.J. Haskins.
A summary of McCann’s findings will be presented to the public on May 26 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting can be attended via live stream.