CHARLOTTE -- A CMPD officer has been charged one of their own with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
The charge comes after an accident Saturday morning when Officer Phillip Barker struck and killed 28-year-old James Short as short walked on East Morehead Street, near Euclid Avenue.
Chief Putney said that Officer Barker had the green light and Short was crossing against a red light. Officer Barker was driving about 100 miles per hour.
CMPD's Internal Affairs Division and Major Crash Unit investigates any potential policy violations.
Police say Barker and two other officers were responding to a call when the accident happened.
Officer Barker has been with the department for 1.5 years and just off probation.
Chief Putney said there is video of the accident which will be released at a later time.
The chief says his heart goes out to Short's family and Officer Barker and his family.
Barker is now on paid administrative leave - which is standard procedure during the investigation - and faces a charge of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle at this point.
At least one legal expert agrees with the officer's attorney that it is premature to have charged him with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Spectrum News report Jonathan Lowe has more.