WOBURN, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts police officer charged with manslaughter for the 2018 fatal shooting of an unarmed man within 12 seconds of approaching him has pleaded not guilty.
Reading Officer Erik Drauschke was arraigned Wednesday on manslaughter charges for the death of Alan Greenough, WBUR-FM reported.
Prosecutors said that Drauschke and seven other officers were responding to a domestic violence call on Feb. 3, the second call in two nights.
On the first night, Greenough evaded arrest. On the second, Drauschke found Greenough in a parking lot of a gas station after he escaped his apartment by jumping out of the window, authorities said. Greenough was hunched over in a car that had been blocked in and could not move.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brant said that Greenough was not attempting to flee or making any movements.
Drauschke radioed in that he has found Greenough, and ordered him to get out of the car at gunpoint. He ordered Greenough to show his hands which are inside his sweatshirt pockets, authorities said.
“Mr. Greenough isn’t showing any weapons, doesn’t make any threats, isn’t looking to get away,” Brant said.
Brant said that Greenough walked toward the officer with his hands still in his pockets and told the officer “Shoot me.” Drauschke fired two shots.
Defense attorney Peter Pasciucco said that his client acted in self-defense and in accordance with his training.
MassLive reports that in the 2 1/2 years he has been on paid leave, Drauschke has been paid $242,607, including $20,000 in vacation hours.
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