In a highly scrutinized incident that has sparked discussion in the Pineville community, no charges will be filed against Sgt. Adam Roberts of the Pineville Police Department, who fatally shot an unarmed man, Dennis Bodden, outside his apartment near a south Charlotte Food Lion. Bodden, accused of shoplifting wine and produce totaling $84, was followed from the store by Sgt. Adam Roberts, who was working off-duty as a security guard at the time. The situation escalated when Bodden allegedly became physically confrontational after being tased by Roberts, an encounter that ended with the shooting.
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, in a statement obtained by WFAE, declared that "there is no likelihood that twelve jurors would unanimously agree that the actions of Sgt. Roberts, in firing his gun, constituted a violation of criminal law," even though he acknowledged the distressing nature of the event. Merriweather suggested, however that "the appropriateness of Sgt. Roberts’ tactics may be ripe for other authorities to evaluate." The identity of Sgt. Roberts was not disclosed until a letter dated June 14 was revealed on Tuesda.
According to the WFAE's coverage of the incident, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported that after the Taser had little to no effect, Bodden attempted to grab the sergeant's weapon which led to the use of lethal force. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department also revealed that Bodden had two felony warrants for breaking and entering, and larceny from the same Food Lion, adding another layer to the tragic narrative.
Continuing the investigation, the Pineville Police Department is conducting an internal review to examine the circumstances leading up to Bodden's death. Recovery efforts were noted by the police, stating that officers "started to treat Bodden’s injuries before an ambulance arrived," according to a report by Spectrum Local News. The local and national communities await further developments as this case has underscored profound questions about police tactics, and use of force protocols.
