CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) — A CMPD police officer who struck and killed a pedestrian with his patrol car early Saturday morning has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation, police said. 

James Michael Short, 28, was killed on Morehead Street early Saturday morning after being struck by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police patrol car.

CMPD said three marked patrol cars were responding to reports of a car that ran into a building on Stonewall Street around 3:20 a.m. when the accident occurred. The three units were traveling on Morehead St. near Euclid Ave. when Short entered the roadway in front of the patrol car and was struck.

Short was pronounced dead on the scene by Medic.  

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer involved is Philip Barker, employed with CMPD since January, 2016. He was treated for minor injuries at Presbyterian Hospital.

The Major Crash Unit of CMPD, as well as the Internal Affairs Unit, are investigating. Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Detective Williams at 704.432.2169.