The Dallas Police Department released body camera footage of an incident that occurred on Thursday, December 16, when an officer fired his gun after kicking down a door at an Oak Lawn apartment. The officer is now under investigation for the event.
The manager of the apartment building at the 4200 block of Rawlins Street called 911 to report a female trespasser in a vacant apartment. No one was injured.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the manager called 911 twice. The first time was around 7:00 pm when a report was made of a female inside the vacant apartment. Another call around 8:30 pm reported that numerous tenants claimed to witness “squatters in the unit.”
Around 8:54 pm, three officers, Dekoven Joshlin, Alejandro Herrera, and John Ciesiolka, arrived at the apartment building. The door to the apartment was locked, and the officers gained permission to break down the door.
Joshlin kicked the door with the back of his foot to break it down and fired one time right after he pulled his gun. The Dallas Police Department stated that Joshlin “activated his weapon-mounted flashlight after he pulled his gun.”
Kelly Rogers, 44, was inside the vacant apartment, standing at the top of the stairs. She was not struck and was arrested for “criminal trespassing.”
Joshlin has been with the Dallas Police Department for three years. According to Fox 4 News, “Police say this is his first shooting incident, and they believe he fired the gun accidentally.” The officers’ body cameras footage shows Joshlin cursing at himself right after the gun was fired.
The Dallas Police Department put Joshlin on “restricted duty” until the investigation is complete. “Independent reviews” will be conducted by the Office of Community Police Oversight and the Dallas County District Attorney.
The investigation of the shooting is being managed by the Special Investigations Unit of the Dallas Police Department, and the Internal Affairs Division will conduct an administrative investigation.