South Jersey cop gave man no commands before shooting him dead, state says in charging him

TRENTON — A Mantua police officer is charged with manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of a civilian who had called 911 for help.

A state grand jury indicted the officer, Salvatore Oldrati, on a charge of manslaughter, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.

But Mantua Police Chief Darren White criticized the announcement, saying Platkin's words were "designed to play on emotion and bias readers against the officer from the start.”

In his statement, Platikin said, “When residents call 911 for service, they are concerned, they need assistance, they seek protection — and they trust the officers responding to their calls will respond accordingly and help them. Tragically, that did not happen here."

Oldrati shot Charles Sharp III, a 49-year-old Mantua resident, "by one of the very officers he had called upon for help," Platkin said.

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“Mr. Sharp was shot multiple times outside his own home by one of the very officers he had called upon for help,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in announcing the charge on Wednesday.

Mantua man talking with 911 dispatcher when officer opened fire

He noted Sharp was still on his phone with a police dispatcher when he was shot.

Oldrati allegedly gave no verbal commands or warnings before shooting Sharp, said Thomas Eicher, executive director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.

Eicher said an investigation by his office found fewer than five seconds elapsed between when Oldrati stepped from his police vehicle and when he began shooting at Sharp.

Two uniformed Mantua officers responded to Sharp’s 911 call shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2021, according to an account from the Attorney General's Office.

During his 911 call, Sharp reported two burglars in his rear yard, one armed with a gun.

Charles Sharp III shot by police outside Mantua home

Sharp was standing in the front yard of his Elm Avenue home when officers arrived, the account said.

Oldrati shot Sharp multiple times after an officer already on the scene, Mantua Police Department Cpl. Robert Layton, yelled, "he's got a gun on him, right there," said the account.

A replica .45-caliber gun was found near Sharp, it said.

Layton did not shoot.

Officers and emergency medical personnel provided aid to Sharp, who was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

A statement from Mantua Township on Thursday said Oldrati fired his gun "operating on the belief that Mr. Sharp was about to fire either at Officer Oldrati or a fellow officer."

It said the township "has fully cooperated" with the state's investigation into the shooting and that its police department "has been and remains fully compliant" with use-of-force training requirements.

Chief White, who noted he was speaking for himself, said, "It is hard for me and others to read his statement as being fair and impartial.

"I was just hoping for the officer to be treated no differently than how any other member of the public would expect for themselves - innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” he continued.

"Unfortunately, I do not feel like Attorney General Platkin's quote allows for this."

Oldrati is on administrative suspension pending resolution of the charges against him, the statement said.

Oldrati joined the Mantua force in June 2018 and was promoted to corporal in October 2022, according to the police department's Facebook page.

Oldrati's attorney could not be reached for comment.

Sharp was a carpenter and 21-year veteran of the Air Force, according to an obituary.

It described the father of three as a 1991 graduate of Clearview Regional High School who loved reading, camping, fishing "and all animals."

Eicher said a state grand jury on Tuesday, May 23, determined Oldrati’s conduct “warranted the return of an indictment for manslaughter.”

The charge against Oldrati is only an allegation. He has not been convicted in the case.

Under New Jersey law, manslaughter occurs when a person commits a criminal homicide recklessly. It is a second-degree crime and a lesser offense than murder or aggravated manslaughter.

If convicted, Oldrati could face up to 10 years in state prison, with no parole eligibility for eight-and-a-half years.

A state law requires the Attorney General’s Office to investigate any person’s death during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity.

The investigation by Eicher’s office included interviews with witnesses, the review of video footage, and the collection of forensic evidence.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: State charges Mantua police Officer Oldrati with manslaughter