An off-duty police officer in Beaver County was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and perjury after prosecutors said he assaulted a bystander at the scene of a shooting in November 2022.

John J. Hawk, 37, was charged Wednesday, Dec. 13, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry.

Hawk, who worked for the Center Township police in Beaver County, knocked a 48-year-old man to the ground outside a Walmart after the bystander approached an investigating officer about potential evidence regarding a shooting, according to Henry. The man died after striking his head on the asphalt.

Hawk was off-duty, wearing casual clothing, did not announce himself as police, did not display law enforcement credentials, and was not heard or seen announcing the victim as under arrest, the news release stated.

According to Henry, the investigation revealed that the victim had complied with orders to back away from the investigating officer, was not aggressive and did not pose a physical threat to Hawk or anyone else.

Hawk is also accused of lying while testifying about the incident before a grand jury, the news release said.