Philadelphia officer accused of leaving man in the street before deadly hit-and-run will be fired

The Philadelphia police officer accused of leaving a man lying in the street before he was fatally struck by a car will be fired, Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Monday.

Bethel announced the update in a news conference, which you can watch on our CBS Philadelphia YouTube channel.

The 48-year-old victim was found on the 5500 block of Rising Sun Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. on Aug. 27, officials said.

Surveillance video from the scene shows an officer pulling over and speaking to the man before driving away. A short time later, a driver hit the victim and fled the area.

Police said the officer did not hold the scene, start a report or investigation, or provide medical care to the man. The Internal Affairs Division investigated the case and a top police official later said in a news conference that the incident was "very disturbing."

Bethel said the officer has been on the job for two years and is suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss.

"I can't train compassion, I can't train empathy," Bethel said. "We live by a code of ethics, and we have to live by that each and every day if we want to do this job appropriately."

Two witnesses later arrived on the scene, moved the man out of the road and called 911. Medics took the man to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

"There was no job that would have pulled you away to leave somebody laying out in the street to allow them to get run over," Bethel said. "And those are the things that that officer has to think about now, as he goes about whatever he may be doing after he leaves the department."

The vehicle involved in the hit-and-run, a green Kia Sportage, has since been found, a police spokesperson said.

Police have also identified a person who they believe was driving the Kia at the time of the crash. That person has not been arrested, Bethel said.

The officer at this time is not facing charges. An investigation is still underway.