Mantua police officer indicted for manslaughter

Mantua Police Officer Salvatore Oldrati has been indicted on manslaughter charges for the September 2021 shooting death of a local resident who had called police to report an armed trespasser.

Charles Sharp III, a 49-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, was shot and killed by Salvatore Oldrati outside his home shortly after he had called 9-1-1.

“Less than five seconds elapsed between when Officer Oldrati stepped out of his police vehicle and when he began firing at Mr. Sharp.” said Thomas Eicher, director of the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “Officer Oldrati gave no verbal commands or warnings before shooting Mr. Sharp.”

Attorney General Matt Platkin expressed anger that Sharp was killed by “one of the very officers he had called upon for help.”

“His life was cut short seconds after Officer Oldrati arrived at the scene, while Mr. Sharp was still on the phone with a police dispatcher,” stated Platkin.  “When residents call 9-1-1 for service, they are concerned, they need assistance, they seek protection — and they trust the officers responding to their calls will respond accordingly and help them. Tragically, that did not happen here.”

Eicher said a state grand jury found that Oldrati’s actions were not justified, warranting the return of an indictment.