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Date: 1/25/2022
SPRINGFIELD – In his report on the death of Springfield resident Orlando Taylor III at the hands of Police Officer Arjel Falcon, Hampden District Attorney (DA) Anthony Gulluni concluded the use of deadly force was warranted in this case.
Gulluni made it clear, though, the need for greater emphasis on mental health support to prevent such events from happening in the future, as well as the importance of thorough investigations into such cases.
“As a society we have to do better with mental health,” he said.
The family of Taylor saw all of the video evidence used and were briefed on the conclusion at which Gulluni arrived, prior to the press conference. The DA noted the conversation between him and the family was “productive and respectful.”
He said that Taylor’s death was a “profound tragedy.”
The DA dismissed the potential use of a Taser in that situation saying based on the standards and training of police a stabbing such as this one is responded with deadly force.
The district attorney said at his press conference on Jan. 21, “All death investigations, but especially those involving an officer’s use of deadly force, must be investigated openly, transparently and objectively. And the process by which this investigation is conducted must be methodical, thorough and consistent. This process, and the consistency and transparency that must be its hallmarks, is, first, about a fair and just outcome. But, second, it’s about building trust in law enforcement in all communities.
Incidents like this one have sparked unrest and distrust for police across our country. It is incumbent on us – on me – to ensure that this incident does not deter or erode a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community we serve, which is a critical component to a safe and united community. In fact, it’s an occasion to show professionalism, decency and respect – to build trust and strengthen relationships, while we deal with a tragedy and all its dimensions.”
The DA used the following to base his investigation and conclusion: body-worn camera footage, Ring doorbell video footage, additional video from a private residence on Cass Street, witness and victim statements, use of force statements, first responder reports, crime scene reports and photos, 911 call and dispatch logs, ShotSpotter reports and the Springfield Police Department’s Electronic Control Weapons policy.
He added, “Additionally, we sought and received an expedited autopsy report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and its accompanying toxicology report. I also sought and received an expedited ballistics report from the Firearms Identification Section of the Massachusetts State Police. At the appropriate times, my office has been in contact with Mr. Taylor’s family, who was afforded the opportunity to come to the office and view the videos.”
Gulluni noted, “On Jan. 9, 2022, a named male victim called 911 reporting an unidentified male attempted to stab him several times while walking in the vicinity of Cass and Liberty streets at approximately 8:30 a.m. He provided a detailed description of this assailant. Officers Arjel Falcon and Christopher Roberts were dispatched to the scene and on the lookout for a male dressed in black Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers, black pants, black pea coat, with a black mask. Call recordings show the caller did not know the identity of the suspect; officers only had the description given.”
Gullini’s report ended with this conclusion: “Officer Falcon’s use of deadly force was clearly a last resort. Upon his arrival to the scene, he was presented with a man suspected of a nearby attempted stabbing. He did not confront the suspect with any weapons but rather attempted to grab him with bare hands. Mr. Taylor almost immediately exercised lethal force – in the form of a knife – against Officer Falcon, stabbing him in the face. After being seriously assaulted, Officer Falcon and his partner pursued the fleeing suspect with firearms drawn. Mr. Taylor then stopped running, turned towards officers, raised the knife in his hand, and charged. Officers Falcon and Roberts nevertheless still attempted to maintain physical separation from Mr. Taylor and rely on verbal commands in avoiding the application of lethal force. Mr. Taylor ignored these commands and charged rapidly at Officer Falcon with the knife in a position to inflict serious injury or death. Officer Falcon’s decision to discharge his firearm came in the last possible seconds before he suffered further injury.
“It was the actions of Mr. Taylor that dictated the reasonable and necessary use of lethal force by Officer Falcon. He fired two shots and ceased firing when the threat was neutralized. The entirety of the amassed, uncontroverted evidence all stand clearly in agreement that Officer Arjel Falcon’s use of deadly force was his unavoidable last resort, to which he arrived after having suffered serious injury, issuing repeated verbal commands and backpedaling to furnish Mr. Taylor with further opportunities to acquiesce.
“The death of Orlando Taylor, III is an unmistakable tragedy. Yet, the role of this office is to find and consider the facts – as established by the undisputed evidence – and apply the relevant law. This report finds that Officer Falcon’s decision to fire his weapon twice at Mr. Taylor under the foregoing circumstances constitutes a lawful and reasonable exercise of self-defense and defense of others. Accordingly, criminal charges are not warranted and this investigation is closed.”
Reaction to Sarno’s statement
While Gulluni did not directly criticize Mayor Domenic Sarno, who conducted a press conference on Jan. 9 and said upon his own review of the video footage the shooting was justified, the district attorney did note of the investigation: “And when a police officer exercises good training, skill and judgement, we have as much responsibility to prove that as we do when the opposite occurs. None of this will happen with knee-jerk reactions or piecemeal conclusions.”
Gulluni commented that Sarno “should have waited” for an investigation, but added the mayor’s comments “had no bearing on the job I had to do.”
The press conference conducted by Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood the day after the shooting was criticized by City Councilors Justin Hurst and Tracye Whitfield.
In the written statement the two councilors wrote, “One thing we all must ask ourselves and act upon is ‘what more could (we)have done’ to save the life of Orlando Taylor III, which was the question that his mother asked of herself at the end of a press conference last week following a family viewing of the video footage of her son’s death. Her question did not fall on deaf ears and is one that we all should be asking ourselves if we are sincere in our efforts to prevent these tragedies from occurring again and ensuring that Orlando Taylor III’s death was not in vain. We must commit to addressing the inequities and inadequacies in our community as it relates to mental health, education, policing, government and public policy, the judicial system and so many more systems that continuously let us down.
“Secondly, Mayor Domenic Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood succeeded in eroding what little trust remained between the executive office, the top brass of the Police Department and the community at large. Publicly justifying a police shooting that results in the death of a resident in a press conference before having access to all of the evidence is deplorable and gave the appearance of a coverup before the District Attorney could even begin his investigation into what occurred. It was not helpful to the officers involved nor to the grieving family searching for answers from the leader of this city and underscores the need for an independent Police Commission.”
In a statement that was released prior to Gulluni’s conclusions signed by Bishop Talbot Swan II, president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, “Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s office said it will ‘move expeditiously’ to conduct a ‘thorough, fair, and transparent’ investigation. Yet, Mayor Domenic Sarno said that he reviewed video footage of the incident and believed the use of force was ‘justified.’ Such statements, prior to the completion of an independent investigation, diminishes confidence that any investigation will be fair and transparent.”
Sarno released a statement after the DA’s press conference that read, “First of all, Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and I again express our thoughts and prayers to the grieving family, as well as good health, a speedy recovery and encouragement to our brave and dedicated police officer on his surgery. Commissioner Clapprood and I want to thank District Attorney Anthony Gulluni for his quick response in releasing the body-worn camera video. The city’s intent was always for this body-worn camera video to be released to the public to show what actually happened in order to dispel any false narrative. We also thank District Attorney Gulluni for his conclusion in resolving this matter. As Commissioner Clapprood, myself, incoming City Solicitor Judge John Payne and City Solicitor Ed Pikula had previously stated, the body-worn camera video speaks for itself and the release allows for the transparency that the city had wanted and is in accordance with the Department of Justice approved policy.”