The Longmont police officer who shot and killed 20-year-old Dariss Yearby is in the clear. But Longmont City Council isn’t finished looking at this case.
The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office announced yesterday the investigation into the actions of Longmont Police Officer Joshua Barry had been completed and found no criminal charges “can or should be filed.”
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Barry’s actions were “objectively reasonable.”
Let’s rewind:
On August 10, three Longmont Police officers arrived at a home where Yearby was holding a woman by her neck while his right hand — which was concealed by a large brown handbag — pointed toward her neck.
Yearby told officers multiple times he had a gun, though the woman told officers repeatedly that he didn’t. “He just wants you to kill him,” she said, insisting that he was suicidal and pleading with officers not to shoot. It was also communicated over dispatch that Yearby was suicidal.
Yearby refused to comply with repeated commands from officers to drop the gun and let the woman go.
Barry was the last of three responding officers to arrive, and ordered Yearby several times to drop the gun before shooting him. Police never found a gun in the room.
At the time of this shooting, Yearby had a pending criminal case against him in which he was charged with attempted murder of the same victim.
New details:
According to the DA’s office…
Prior to the August 10 incident, Yearby had indicated he didn’t want to return to jail and, if necessary, he would cause officers to take his life.
Barry had attended a training involving live fire hostage scenarios a week before the incident.
The other reporting officers stated they believed their lives — and to a higher degree, the victim’s life — were in danger.
The controversy:
At an October 6 Longmont City Council meeting, close to 50 members of Yearby’s family attended to lobby the seven-member team to hold Longmont Police accountable. They perceived Barry’s actions (per bodycam footage) as careless and excessively aggressive and criticized Longmont Police for its handling of public communication during the fallout of the incident.
Mayor Susie Hidalgo-Fahring appeared sympathetic, stating “We’ve got work ahead of us, and I admit that. And we have a commitment to do that. For Dariss and all of our kids who are struggling.”
Fast forward a few weeks and the topic is returning to city council. During a closed-door executive session Tuesday, Longmont City Council will “discuss the Dariss Yearby officer involved shooting and applicable laws, policies and procedures,” per a City of Longmont agenda packet.
Zooming out:
“This shooting and the loss of Mr. Yearby’s life is incredibly tragic. I feel terrible for everyone involved in, and impacted by, this domestic violence incident,” Dougherty stated.