Littleton police release body-camera video of officer shooting Stephen Poolson

Littleton police waited nearly five minutes before rendering aid to a 41-year-old man shot by an officer earlier this month, according to video footage released by the department on Monday.

The video shows an officer chasing Stephen Poolson on Feb. 2 behind an apartment building. The officer has his gun drawn and can be heard yelling “don’t shoot” before firing. Police have said Poolson produced a gun during the incident, but the video is obscured, making it hard to see what’s in the man’s hand.

Body-camera footage does show police locating a black handgun nearby, and dispatch audio released Monday includes a recording of an officer saying “he pulled a gun.”

Littleton police have come under fire for mischaracterizing the chase and shooting near the intersection of Bannock Street and W. Powers Avenue. The department, in its initial news release, said the officer contacted Poolson after receiving a call for a suspicious vehicle. The suspect, Littleton police, said “was driving a motorcycle and crashed.”

But video obtained by 9News, and subsequently released by Littleton police, showed an officer ramming Poolson, who was riding a motorcycle, with his patrol vehicle before giving chase.

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Nearly five minutes pass between when the shooting occurred and when authorities attempt to render aid. Poolson was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

The 18th Judicial District Critical Response Team is investigating the shooting, and the officer, who has not been identified, remains on paid administrative leave.

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