Former Philadelphia Police Officer Charged With Murder In 2017 Fatal Shooting Of Unarmed Black Man

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Former Philadelphia Police Officer Charged With Murder In 2017 Fatal Shooting Of Unarmed Black Man
By CBS3 Staff
October 9, 2020 at 4:05 pm

officer-eric-ruch-picture.jpg


PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A former Philadelphia police officer has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a Black man in 2017. Former officer Eric Ruch Jr. shot 25-year-old Dennis Plowden after a car chase in East Germantown.

It happened around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2017, at 19th and Nedro Streets in East Germantown. Investigators say two plainclothes officers attempted to pull over a car a few blocks away that matched the description of a suspect’s vehicle in a homicide about a week earlier.

Authorities say Ruch requested the tags on Plowden’s car, but there were no violations reported. During the stop, Plowden struck one of the officers with the car and sped off, authorities say.

Plowden crashed into several cars while fleeing from police. Police say Plowden got out of the car stumbling and fell onto the curb. When officers approached him, he had one hand behind his back.

After several commands to show his hand, police say Ruch opened fire and the bullet went through Plowden’s hand and into his head. Plowden was unarmed.

“Within six to eight seconds of arriving on the scene, former Officer Ruch shot Plowden once, the bullet passing through his raised left hand, wounding three fingers and traveling directly into his head,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. “It was indisputable that Plowden did not have a gun or any other weapon that night. Indisputable.

“We are trying to be fair,” Krasner added, “and that is the only way that we’re going to succeed in restoring the relationship between communities that are sometimes distrustful of law enforcement and the law enforcement, including this office, that’s supposed to serve them.”

Eyewitness News spoke with Tania Plowden, Plowden’s wife, shortly after the murder charges were announced.

Their son was 6 months old when the shooting took place. She still can’t find closure at this moment.

“I felt overwhelmed, but at the same time, I felt progress had really been made,” she said. “It can’t bring me closure because I can’t get my husband back. My son was robbed of a life to know his father. At 6 months old, he doesn’t have a memory of his dad.”

The officer who was hit by the car was treated and released from a local hospital.

The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police says it will be representing Ruch.

“Our attorneys will review the allegations and appropriately defend this officer,” union president John McNesby said in a statement. “Officer Ruch Jr. is entitled to due process and we believe the judicial system will protect his rights to a fair trial.”

Ruch was dismissed from the Philadelphia Police Department in 2018.
 

Trial finishes up for former Philadelphia police officer accused of killing unarmed Black man​


philadelphia
By Wakisha Bailey

September 19, 2022 / 8:35 AM / CBS Philadelphia








PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Monday, the former Philadelphia police officer accused of shooting and killing an unarmed Black man is back in court as his trial finishes up. CBS3 was told this is the first time in at least 40 years that an on-duty police officer has been on trial for murder.

Eric Ruch, Junior is charged with third-degree murder. He is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Dennis Plowden in December 2017.

Plowden was involved in a crash after allegedly running from officers.

They believed his car was tied to a murder investigation.

A brief chase ended in a crash. Testimony from other officers suggested Plowden posed a danger to police.


Ruch shot him, the bullet traveling through his hand and into his head.

Plowden was unarmed.

CBS3 is following this trial closely if a verdict is reached today we will be sure to pass that information along.
 
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Former Philadelphia police officer Eric Ruch found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in fatal shooting of Dennis Plowden​


philadelphia
By Joe Holden, Kerri Corrado, Wakisha Bailey

September 21, 2022 / 6:06 PM / CBS Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A former Philadelphia police officer has been found guilty on charges relating to a 2017 fatal shooting. A jury found Eric Ruch guilty of voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime in the murder of Dennis Plowden.

The verdict was delivered Wednesday afternoon. The jury deliberated for a little more than two days, reaching their decision shortly before 3 p.m. When the verdict was read, Ruch openly cried.

The shooting took place after Plowden was involved in a car crash in East Germantown, following a brief police chase.

It's alleged Plowden had been running from officers who believed the vehicle he was driving had some possible connection to another unsolved homicide.



Plowden was not armed when he was shot.


Testimony from fellow officers revealed they believed there to be an element of danger and that Ruch's reaction of firing once through Plowden's hand -- with the bullet hitting him in the head -- could have some justification.

The jury did not agree with that testimony.

Ruch did face the possibility of conviction for third-degree murder, but the jury found for the lesser count of voluntary manslaughter.

The Pennsylvania crimes code describes it as "a person who kills an individual without lawful justification commits voluntary manslaughter if at the time of the killing he is acting under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation."



This was the first time in at least 40 years that an on-duty police officer was on trial for murder.


The ex-officer faces the possibility of at least three years in jail.

His bail was revoked immediately after the conviction.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Plowden's family did not want to speak on Wednesday.


 
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