Identities Released
By: Nadia Bashir
Updated: December 21, 2010
We now know the identities of the officer and victim involved in Monday's fatal police shooting. The victim was 23-year-old Yahree J. Cavin. The officer was Sgt. Mark M. Dolezal.
Hired in 1987, Sgt. Dolezal is a 23-year veteran of the force with prior experience in Vice/Narcotics. He has a clean record with only minor reprimands. One for being late to duty in 1987. And two reprimands for car accidents in 1991 & 1995.
Monday's shooting happened at 2020 Harrison. Police say they were called to the scene to address a disagreement between Cavin and nearby construction workers, who had seen Cavin's gun and called 911. Police say Cavin answered his door with the weapon in his hand and repeatedly ignored officers' requests to place it down, eventually pointing it at them. Sgt. Dolezal then shot Cavin one time.
Police later determined the gun to be fake - known as an airsoft pistol. It is primarily used for training purposes because it uses cheaper ammunition. It comes with an orange tip which is required to be on the gun by federal law. However many people remove it or paint over it for a more realistic look. Police say they cannot tell the difference in the field and must assume all guns are real.
State police will be investigating in order to have an independent investigator which is standard protocol in a police shooting. Sgt. Dolezal is on administrative leave for five days- also standard procedure.
Hired in 1987, Sgt. Dolezal is a 23-year veteran of the force with prior experience in Vice/Narcotics. He has a clean record with only minor reprimands. One for being late to duty in 1987. And two reprimands for car accidents in 1991 & 1995.
Monday's shooting happened at 2020 Harrison. Police say they were called to the scene to address a disagreement between Cavin and nearby construction workers, who had seen Cavin's gun and called 911. Police say Cavin answered his door with the weapon in his hand and repeatedly ignored officers' requests to place it down, eventually pointing it at them. Sgt. Dolezal then shot Cavin one time.
Police later determined the gun to be fake - known as an airsoft pistol. It is primarily used for training purposes because it uses cheaper ammunition. It comes with an orange tip which is required to be on the gun by federal law. However many people remove it or paint over it for a more realistic look. Police say they cannot tell the difference in the field and must assume all guns are real.
State police will be investigating in order to have an independent investigator which is standard protocol in a police shooting. Sgt. Dolezal is on administrative leave for five days- also standard procedure.
