• Locations

  • Tags

Tag: police officer

Beavercreek Police Sgt. David M. Darkow

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-08-05

Location:

Beavercreek, Ohio

 


What happened:

A white Ohio police officer fatally shot a black man, John Crawford III, in a Walmart store on August 5 2014 after Crawford took a bb/pellet gun off a Walmart store shelf.  Williams and his partner were called to the store after someone made a 911 call claiming someone was waving a rifle in the air of the store. Officer Williams later claimed he believed he faced an “imminent threat”, although he acknowledges he and his partner didn’t observe anyone running, screaming or in pain and didn’t hear or smell gunfirenever. Moreover, he never saw Crawford point (what turned out to be a pellet gun) or threaten anyone.  Additionally, Ohio is an “open carry state”.   Crawford was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden.

Another Walmart shopper Angela Williams, 37, who worked at a Springfield nursing home, died of a heart condition after Officer Williams fired his weapon and she tried to flee the store.

Williams, a nine-year veteran on the force, was involved in Beavercreek’s first fatal police-involved shooting on June 27, 2010.  In that shooting, Williams shot and killed retired Air Force Master Sgt. Scott A. Brogli, 45, after the man allegedly charged him and another officer while carrying a large kitchen knife. Brogli died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, as his 17-year-old son watched the incident unfold.


About The Perpetrator:

David M. Darkow is a white male police officer sergeant with the Beavercreek Police Department.


About The Victim:

John Crawford III, an African American male, was only 22 years of age when murdered and left behind two sons- nearly 2-year-old John Henry IV and 5-month-old Jayden.


Outcome:

The DOJ Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Ohio conducted an investigation and informed the public on July 11, 2017 that evidence from their investigation was “insufficient to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Officer Williams violated [Crawford’s] federal civil rights. As a result, a grand jury in Greene County declined to indict Officer Williams on charges of reckless homicide or negligent homicide.

Officer Williams was placed on desk duty after the shooting but was immediately placed back on full active duty at the conclusion of the DOJ investigation per the Beavercreek Police Chief’s orders.

John Crawford III’s family has filed a civil suit which is ongoing.  The initial civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Dayton by members of Crawford’s family, listed 17 counts against the defendants, ranging from assault and battery against the officers directly involved in the shooting, to negligent training and supervision against Evers and the city of Beavercreek, to negligence against Wal-Mart, as well as other charges. In the lawsuit documents, the family asked for a jury trial and compensatory damages in excess of $75,000.


Sources:

Ohio Police Officer Who Shot and Killed Black 22yo Says He Faced Imminent Threat;  Officer Who Killed Walmart Shopper Carrying Air Rifle Won't Face Federal Charges;  Beavercreek Police Officer Darkow Back On Job;  Beavercreek Officer Who Shot John Crawford III Back on 'Full Duty';  Beavercreek Officers Granted Third Lawsuit Delay; 

Officer Daniel Pantaleo

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-07-17

Location:

Staten Island, New York 


What happened:

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island, New York City, after a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Pantaleo put him in a headlock or chokehold for about 15 to 19 seconds while arresting him. Placing suspects in a chokehold is a tactic banned by the department since 1993. Officer Pantaleo denied choking Garner, but the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office report stated “Cause of Death: Compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police” and “Contributing Conditions: Acute and chronic bronchial asthma; Obesity; Hypertensive cardiovascular disease”. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide–“a death caused by the intentional actions of another person or persons, which is not necessarily an intentional death or a criminal death.” 

NYPD officers approached Garner on suspicion of selling single cigarettes from packs without tax stamps. After Garner told the police that he was tired of being harassed and that he was not selling cigarettes, the officers went to arrest Garner. When officer Daniel Pantaleo tried to take Garner’s wrist behind his back, Garner pulled his arms away. Pantaleo then put his arm around Garner’s neck and took him down onto the ground. After Pantaleo removed his arm from Garner’s neck, he pushed the side of Garner’s face into the ground while four officers moved to restrain Garner, who repeated “I can’t breathe” eleven times while lying face down on the sidewalk. After Garner lost consciousness, officers turned him onto his side to ease his breathing. Garner remained lying on the sidewalk for seven minutes while the officers waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The officers and emergency medical technicians did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Garner at the scene; according to a spokesman for the PBA, this was because they believed that Garner was breathing and that it would be improper to perform CPR on someone who was still breathing. He was pronounced dead at the hospital approximately one hour later.


About The Perpetrator:

Daniel Pantaleo is a White male.

At the time of Eric Garner’s death, Pantaleo was 29 years of age, was living in Eltingville, Staten Island, and had been an NYC officer of 8 years.  Pantaleo was the subject of 2 civil rights lawsuits in 2013 where plaintiffs accused Pantaleo of falsely arresting them and abusing them.

In the first suit, two men, Darren Collins and Tommy Rice, claimed Pantaleo and other officers stopped and strip-searched them in broad daylight while they were driving. The officers handcuffed Collins and Rice and “Pantaleo and/or Conca pulled down the plaintiff’s pants and underwear, and touched and searched their genital areas, or stood by while this was done in their presence,” the lawsuit alleged. The plaintiffs allege that Pantaleo had falsely claimed that he saw crack and heroin in plain view, on the vehicle’s back seat, allowing the officers to arrest everyone in the car.  The two men each received $15,000 settlements from the city.

Pantaleo moved from his home after Garner’s death due to death threats.


About The Victim:

Eric Garner was an African American male and was 43 years of age at the time of his death. He was also asthmatic and a father of six.


Outcome:

On December 3, 2014, the Richmond County grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo. On that day, the United States Department of Justice announced it would conduct an independent investigation. The event stirred public protests and rallies, with charges of police brutality made by protesters. By December 28, 2014, at least 50 demonstrations had been held nationwide specifically for Garner while hundreds of demonstrations against general police brutality counted Garner as a focal point.

On July 13, 2015, an out-of-court settlement was announced in which the City of New York would pay the Garner family $5.9 million.

Sources:

  • https://nypost.com/2014/07/18/man-dies-after-suffering-heart-attack-during-arrest
  • http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/funeral-today-eric-garner-article-1.1877381
  • https://thinkprogress.org/daniel-pantaleo-records-75833e6168f3
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/14/nyregion/eric-garner-case-is-settled-by-new-york-city-for-5-9-million.html?smid=pl-share

Sources:

Man Dies After Suffering Heart Attack During Arrest;  Relatives, Friends Say Goodbye to Eric Garner;  The Disturbing Secret History of the NYPD Officer Who Killed Eric Garner;  Eric Garner Case is Settled by NY City for $5.9 Million; 

Officer Darren Dean Wilson

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-08-09

Location:

Ferguson, Missouri


What happened:

Brown, an 18-year-old African American, was a suspect in a “strong-arm” robbery of a convenience store. Brown was fatally shot by Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white police officer in an encounter that took place a short distance away from the convenience store, several minutes after officer Wilson received a radio alert which included a description of a suspect. Brown was accompanied by his friend Dorian Johnson who was 22. Wilson said that an altercation ensued when Brown attacked Wilson in his police vehicle for control of Wilson’s gun until it was fired. Brown and Johnson then fled, with Wilson in pursuit of Brown. In the entire altercation, Wilson fired a total of twelve bullets. 


About The Perpetrator:

Darren Dean Wilson is a white man.  He was born in Fort Worth, Texas on May 14, 1986. He lives in Crestwood, Missouri, southwest of Ferguson and was 28 years old when he murdered 18 year old Mike Brown. Wilson had only been a police officer for 6 years First spent 2 years in Jennings, Missouri. Wilson had no previous disciplinary actions on his record although his first department was so dysfunctional all officers were fired.


About The Victim:

Michael Brown was an African American male, murdered on August 9th, 2014. At the time of his death, he was 18 years old, was 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall, and weighed 292 lb (132 kg). He graduated from Normandy High School in St. Louis County eight days before his death and was two days from starting a training program for heating and air conditioning repair at Vatterott College technical school.


Outcome:

The shooting sparked great unrest in Ferguson. Although a subsequent FBI investigation found that there was no evidence that Brown had his hands up in surrender or said “don’t shoot” before he was shot, protesters believed that he had done so, and used the slogan, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” in protest. Protests, both peaceful and violent, continued for more than a week in Ferguson resulting in police establishing a nightly curfew. The response of area police agencies in dealing with the protests was strongly criticized by the media and politicians. There were concerns over insensitivity, tactics, and a militarized response. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ordered local police organizations to cede much of their authority to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A grand jury was called by Robert McCulloch, the St. Louis County Prosecutor, and was given extensive evidence. On November 24, 2014, McCulloch announced the St. Louis County grand jury had decided not to indict Wilson. On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reported it had concluded its own investigation and cleared Wilson of civil rights violations in the shooting. It found forensic evidence supported the officer’s account, that witnesses who corroborated the officer’s account were credible, and that witnesses who had incriminated him were not credible, with some admitting they had not directly seen the events. The U.S. Department of Justice concluded Wilson shot Brown in self-defense.


Sources:

Gunshots, Looting After Grand Jury In Ferguson Case Does Not Indict;  Michael Brown Robbed Convenience Store, Stole Cigarillos Before Darren Wilson Shooting;  Michael Brown Shooting: What Darren Wilson Told the Ferguson Grand Jury;  DOJ Report; 

 

 

Honorary Perpertrator: Jeff Roorda

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2014-08-09

Location:

St. Louis, Missouri 


What happened:

Jeff Roorda has helped with the fundraising for Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who was under investigation for the controversial killing of Michael Brown, and Roorda repeatedly publicly defended Wilson. Roorda demanded an apology from the NFL following a public display of protest by several members of the St. Louis Rams. Late in 2015 a controversial book by Roorda, Ferghanistan: The War on Police, was released with a “generous” portion of the profits promised to Wilson. Roorda in July 2016 was sharply criticized by the Ethical Society of Police, Alder Cara Spencer, and others for an incendiary graphic and remarks about the shooting of officers in Dallas.


About The Perpetrator:

Jeff Roorda is a White male born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 30, 1965.

He is the oldest of two sons. He lived in St. Louis with his parents and younger brother until he was twelve years old when Roorda’s family moved to Arnold, a St. Louis suburb in Jefferson County, Missouri. Roorda graduated from Windsor High School in Jefferson County. Roorda received an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri and later went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Missouri Baptist University and his Masters in Public Policy Administration from University of Missouri – St. Louis.  Roorda married his wife Nancy in 1994. They have three daughters.

Roorda was a democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives serving from 2005-2010 and again from 2013 to 2015.  Roorda is a former police officer and is also the executive director and business manager of the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA). SLPOA is Lodge #68 of the Fraternal Order of Police covering the St. Louis Metropolitan Polcie Department (SLMPD).


About The Victim:


Outcome:

Roorda is known for making incendiary and ignorant comments around race and social justice issues. 


Sources:

Missouri House of Representatives;  Krewson Calls On Police Union to Fire Manager Over Harsh Comments; 

Officer Blane Salamoni

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

2016-07-05

Location:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana


What happened:

Alton Sterling was a 37 year old black man, selling CDs outside the Triple S Food Mart, at the corner of Fairfields Avenue and North Foster Drive in Baton Rouge Lousiana on July 5 2016 .  According to witnesses, a homeless man got into an argument with Sterling after Sterling repeatedly told the man to leave him alone. Sterling then flashed a firearm and the homeless man used his cell phone to call 911. When officers arrived, they confronted Sterling, tased him, forced him to the ground and shot several times at close range while held down on the ground by Baton Rouge Police Department Officers Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni. Despite video footage, there was no evidence that Sterling ever reached for a gun or acted in a way that necessitated him being shot multiple times while on the ground.   


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

After the shooting Lake II and Salamoni were placed on administrative leave.  A criminal investigation, led by the U.S. Department of Justice, was undertaken, in which the the FBI and state police were involved. However in May 2, 2017, they decided that it would not file criminal charges against the police officers.

After this decision was made by the Department of Justice, Louisiana’s attorney general. Jeff Landry, said that the state of Louisiana would open an investigation into the shooting once the Department of Justice releases the physical evidence.

 A federal civil rights investigation was also conducted.

 

Sources:


Blane Salamoni, 28, is a white male.

He works in the uniform patrol division. His wife is a local EMT. Salamoni graduated from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge in 2006. He then graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2010.

His father, Captain Noel Salamoni, is the commander of the Baton Rouge department’s Special Operations Division and was a finalist for the city’s police chief job in 2013. His mother, Melissa, is a retired police captain.

Officer Michael Slager

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

April 4, 2015

Location:

North Charleston, South Carolina


What happened:

Walter Lamar Scott was murdered on on April 4, 2015, in North Charleston, South Carolina, following a daytime traffic stop for a non-functioning brake light. North Charleston Patrolman, Michael Slager was arrested and charged with murder after shooting unarmed “Walter Lamar” Scott man in the back. Slager was only charged with murder after a video surfaced which showed him shooting Scott from behind while Scott was fleeing, and which contradicted his police report. Slager claimed he was pursuing Scott for driving with a broken brake light. Many critics also called for the prosecution of Clarence Habersham, the second officer seen in the video, alleging an attempted cover-up and questioning “whether Habersham omitted significant information from his report.” Slager was named in a police complaint in 2013 for allegedly using a Taser on a man without cause. Slager was cleared by the police department over the incident while the victim and several witnesses said they were not interviewed. Following the Scott killing, North Charleston police stated they would re-review the 2013 complaint. Slager was named in a second tasing-without-cause complaint following an August 2014 police stop. A complaint filed in January 2015 resulted in Slager being cited for failing to file a report.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

In June 2015, a South Carolina grand jury indicted Slager on a charge of murder. He was released on bond in January 2016. In late 2016, a five-week, state murder trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. In May 2016, Slager was indicted on federal charges including violation of Scott’s civil rights and obstruction of justice. On May 2, 2017, in a plea agreement, Slager pled guilty to federal charges of civil rights violations. In return for his guilty plea, murder charges from the state were dropped. The guilty plea carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In an extremely rare turn of justice for victims of unarmed police shootings, Michael Slager was given a 20 year sentence on Thursday December 7, 2017, for second degree murder and obstruction of justice. Officials in North Charleston, S.C., reached a $6.5 million settlement with the family of Walter Scott. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/08/police-sued-for-using-stun-gun-on-man-after-smashing-car-window https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/michael-slager-sentencing/index.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/10/08/north-charleston-reaches-6-5-million-settlement-with-walter-scotts-family/?utm_term=.539960f93183


Michael Thomas Slager is a white male, age 33 at the time he murdered Walter Lamar Scott.

He was born November 14, 1981 and served in the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) for five years and five months prior to the shooting. Before becoming a police officer, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Officer Michael Carey

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Officer Carey testified that he opened fire after he heard Isnora yell ‘Gun!’ and was cleared of all departmental charges. The only discipline that Officer Carey faced was from the department, which sought to try him on charges that he failed to comply with departmental guidelines in firing his gun. Detective Gescard Isnora was the only officer involved who was terminated outright with no pension or benefits. He was found to have violated department guidelines by firing his weapon while undercover. Sources say he works for the Detectives Endowment Association as a civilian and has tentative plans to sue the NYPD over the pension he was denied. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/nyregion/17grand.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/nyregion/26BELL.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/nyregion/27bell.html?em&ex=1209441600&en=ebc2b423bdbf4537&ei=5087


Officer Michael Carey is White.

Detective Marc Cooper

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Cooper fired five shots during the incident. Like most of the officers involved in the shooting, Cooper left the NYPD with his pension intact and will $55,000 a year pension and an annual $12,000 supplement.

Sources:


Marc Cooper is an African American male.

Detective Gescard Isnora

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25 2006

Location:

Queens, New York


What happened:

Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Detective Gescard Isnora was the only officer involved who was terminated outright with no pension or benefits. He was found to have violated department guidelines by firing his weapon while undercover. Sources say he works for the Detectives Endowment Association as a civilian and has tentative plans to sue the NYPD over the pension he was denied.

Source:


Detective Gescard Isnora is an African American.

Detective Michael Oliver

Perpetrator

Victim

Date:

November 25, 2006

Location:


What happened:

Of the 50 shots fired by police at the unarmed groom-to-be and his pals in Queens on Nov. 25, 2006, Oliver fired 31, and even stopped to reload. Sean Bell was shot in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States, on November 25, 2006 after celebrating a bachelor party with friends. Sean Bell was then murdered on the morning before his wedding in a 50 bullet barrage by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers. Two of Bell’s friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, were also severely wounded in the 50 bullet barrage. Michael Oliver fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload. Mr. Bell was killed as he sat in the driver’s seat. Trent Benefield, 23, who was in the passenger seat, was struck three times, in the leg and buttock, and Mr. Guzman, 31, who was in a back seat, had at least 11 bullet wounds along his right side, from his neck to his feet. All victims were unarmed. Standard Police Department procedures call for the suspension of officers who are charged with a crime, and the three detectives were ordered to surrender their shields. All five officers were placed on paid leave without their weapons.


About The Perpetrator:


About The Victim:


Outcome:

On March 16, 2007, three city police officers were indicted in the killing of 23 year old, Sean Bell. It is unclear whether Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, sought the indictment of the other two officers who fired at Mr. Bell, Detective Paul Headley, 35, who fired one shot, and Officer Michael Carey, 26, who fired three shots. All five of the officers testified voluntarily before the grand jury without immunity from prosecution. Detectives Isnora and Oliver faced the most charges: first- and second-degree manslaughter, with a possible sentence of 25 years in prison; felony assault, first and second degree; and a misdemeanor, reckless endangerment, with a possible one-year sentence. Detective Oliver also faced a second count of first-degree assault. Detective Cooper was charged only with two counts of reckless endangerment. The seven-week trial, which ended on April 14, 2008 was heard by Justice Cooperman after the defendants waived their right to a jury, a strategy some lawyers called risky at the time. But it clearly paid off. Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora– were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends. Detective Cooper was also found not guilty of reckless endangerment. Like most of the officers involved in the shooting, Oliver left the NYPD with his pension intact and will collect $40,000 a year starting in 2014 Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/nyregion/17grand.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/nyregion/26BELL.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/nyregion/27bell.html?em&ex=1209441600&en=ebc2b423bdbf4537&ei=5087


Michael Oliver is a white male.

He joined the department 12 years prior to the murder of Sean Bell, and had more than 600 arrests to his name, and multiple arrests involving guns, which he claims underscored a history of restraint with his own firearm. This didn’t matter in Sean Bell’s case where Oliver being charged with manslaughter, assault, and reckless endangerment, was found to have fired 31 shots and even stopped to reload.