The two struggled in the road after the driver crashed his truck while trying to flee. Watch video
CAMDEN -- The Camden County prosecutor's office said that the Haddon Township officer who shot a man in the leg during a struggle after he fled a traffic stop was justified in doing so.
The officer, who has never been identified, discharged his gun "to end the attack" and because he believed Edmond Brown Jr. was trying to grab it, the prosecutor's office said Friday.
A dashcam video of the incident obtained by Philly.com shows that at the time he was shot, Brown was facing away from the officer, who appears to be trying to stop him from getting away.
The prosecutor's office said the officer was not aware he had shot Brown, who continued to struggle. In the video, Brown says "you shot me!" and the officer replies "No, I didn't," before finally getting him to the ground.
The incident took place Oct. 29 on Alabama Road on the border of Haddon Township and Camden. According to Philly.com, the officer tried to pull Brown's truck over because he was driving with a handicap placard on his mirror.
According to the prosecutor's office, Brown ignored the officer's attempts to pull him over until the officer approached his truck at a stop light on Route 130 and ordered him to pull over.
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Brown pulled onto Alabama Road, where he gave the officer a false name and an insurance document that showed his policy was expired. After twice going back to his cruiser to check the false name with a dispatcher, the officer returned for a third time and told Brown to turn off his vehicle.
"Mr. Brown, however, immediately grabbed the gear shifter in an attempt to put the car into drive," the prosecutor's office said. The officer jumped into the window and tried to grab the shifter, the statement said, but Brown pushed him away and accelerated across the street.
The officer was able to jump free of the truck just before it slammed into a parked car.
He then drew his weapon, ordered the man to get out of the truck, show his hands and get down on the ground, the prosecutor's office said. Brown did have his hands up but only briefly got down on his knees before getting back up and moving toward the rear of the truck.
"The Officer attempted to get him to the ground when Mr. Brown began to fight with him and run in the direction of the patrol car," the release said. "The officer was able to catch him a short distance away with his gun still unholstered."
As the struggle continued the officer shot Brown in the right thigh and then quickly reholstered his gun, the video shows. He got Brown to the ground and after cuffing him, EMTs gave him medical care. He was treated at Cooper Hospital and released the same day.
Police who later searched his vehicle found a loaded Smith & Wesson, .357 Magnum revolver, a red folding knife, and a wooden handle steak-type knife, according to the prosecutor's office.
Brown has been charged with aggravated assault, assault by auto, eluding, hindering apprehension, unlawful possession of a weapon, and being a person not allowed to carry weapons.
"Based on the findings of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office investigation, which includes the officer's account, statements from independent witnesses, the patrol car's dash camera video and physical evidence, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo determined that the officer acted in accordance with the Attorney General's Use of Force Guidelines in using deadly force to prevent serious injury or death," the statement said.
Brown was ordered held in the Camden County Correctional Facility on $100,000 bail.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.