Most of us have read the headlines or saw the endless stories on the controversial recent police shootings in other parts of the country:

• Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, was fatally shot by a white officer in August 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.

• A St. Anthony, Minnesota, officer was acquitted of manslaughter in June in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, a black motorist who had just informed the officer he was legally carrying a gun.

• Federal prosecutors announced in May they would not seek charges against two white police officers who were involved in a deadly encounter with Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last summer.

• Former North Charleston, South Carolina, patrolman Michael Slager was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the April 2015 shooting of Walter Scott, 50, an unarmed black man.

These are just four of the high-profile cases among several dozen which have occurred nationwide and which have led to a re-examination of how police departments train and instruct their officers in a dangerous society.

Now we have had one in our own backyard, and while this has not generated the same kind of national attention that the ones I just mentioned have, it shows that no area is immune to these deadly confrontations.

South Whitehall Township police officer Jonathan Roselle, 33, of Parryville, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death near Dorney Park on July 28 of Joseph Santos, 44, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

If convicted on the felony charge, he could be sent to prison for up to 20 years. He is free on $75,000 unsecured bond pending a preliminary hearing.

While each police shooting has unique circumstances, this one was captured on several videos, including the police officer’s body camera. What is not clear is why Santos left a family birthday celebration inside Dorney Park and was spotted wandering in traffic along busy Hamilton Boulevard outside the park. Motorists called 911 to report that a man was hanging onto vehicles, and, in one case, ripped out a window. One motorist reported that Santos was begging for help.

A terrified female motorist ran up to Roselle, who was on traffic duty nearby, and reported that a man tried to enter her vehicle. Roselle confronted Santos, who jumped on the hood of the patrol car and banged on the windshield.

Roselle got out of the car after calling for backup to report a possible “mental” individual and shouted numerous times for Santos to get on the ground. Santos disregarded the orders and began to walk away, then turned and began walking toward Roselle. Although unarmed, Santos raised his arm and lowered it and continued walking toward the officer. He told Roselle, “Don’t do it,” according to official reports.

Fearing he was in mortal danger, Roselle fired five shots killing Santos. It is not yet clear how many shots hit Santos.

Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin said the charge was brought because Roselle had several nonlethal options, including use of a Taser, pepper spray and a baton, all of which were present and operable. Martin and law enforcement officers have declined to release the body camera footage while the investigation is ongoing.

One of the key issues in this case is the fact that Roselle has been on the force for about eight months and just about five months on solo patrol. The NAACP is questioning whether Roselle was trained properly. The organization also pointed out that the South Whitehall police force has no minority officers despite the growing diversity of the area and the presence of Dorney Park, a national amusement attraction that attracts thousands of minority patrons every season.

Roselle is on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues, but members of Santos’ family and the NAACP have called for his firing, calling him “trigger-happy.”

Roselle’s attorney issued a statement saying, “Officer Roselle believes now, as he did on July 28, that his actions were justified and appropriate based on the facts and circumstances evident at the time.”

This statement is at odds, however, with those of fellow officers who arrived on the scene. They are quoted as saying that Roselle said on two occasions shortly after the shooting that he “messed up” and “(expletive) up.”

For his part, Santos had ongoing drug problems, although family members said that he has been sober recently, even though he was on probation for drug-related offenses at the time of his death.

I am cautioning that we not rush to judgment in this case and let the judicial and investigative processes play out. I cannot even imagine being in a police officer’s shoes in such a situation. They must use their best judgment to escalating and changing dynamics. Through it all, however, they must abide by state and federal laws, a suspect’s rights and departmental procedures. On top of this, social media cameras may be rolling and tracking an officer’s every move, for better or worse.

I also cannot imagine being a parent, spouse, child, sibling, relative or loved one and learning that what was to have been a joyous celebration turned into unspeakable tragedy.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com