Attorneys for the state of Missouri withheld key evidence from Anthony Lamar Smith’s family during a civil lawsuit, an independent investigator has found. Smith, a 24-year-old black man, was killed in 2011 by a white St. Louis police officer in 2011. The city paid a $900,000 settlement to his young daughter — but the family’s … Read more
OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma City police officer was arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail for second-degree murder in connection with a November officer-involved shooting. Sgt. Keith Patrick Sweeney was charged in connection to the death of 29-year-old Dustin Pigeon. Police were called on Nov. 15 to the 1400 block of SW 20 … Read more
Attorneys for a white former North Charleston police officer who shot and killed a black motorist during a routine traffic stop in 2015 are expected to wrap up their defense Wednesday morning, believing they’ve successfully shown their client, Michael Slager, committed manslaughter, not murder, when he shot Walter Scott to death. That determination will be … Read more
Eight years after the tragic death of a 23-year-old patient with schizophrenia at Bridgewater State Hospital, three prison guards are slated to stand trial Tuesday on charges they killed Joshua K. Messier while forcefully strapping him to a bed in a brutal scene captured on prison video. The trial, scheduled to unfold in Plymouth Superior … Read more
HAMLIN, Texas – Texas Rangers are investigating the death of a 49-year-old man who collapsed and later died over the weekend while in custody of Hamlin police. Hamlin police say he had become violent with officers and EMS personnel. Johnny McNeil identified the victim as his brother, Delbert McNeil. He said his brother was a … Read more
The ex-cop who snuffed out the life of Valerie Morrow will spend the rest of his life in prison. Stephen “Roz” Rozniakowski, 35, of Norwood, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole Wednesday after pleading guilty to murder in the first degree for Morrow’s shooting death Dec. 15, 2014. Rozniakowski, a former Colwyn … Read more
Paul Hurth, a former Fresno police officer and chaplain jailed for the 2000 shooting death of his ex-lover’s husband, is expected to be released in December, according to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. If released next month, Hurth, who is now 61, will have served 17 years of the 21-year sentence ordered by … Read more
State police are attempting to block the release of records, including photos, reports and on scene video, related to an Aug. 26 police chase that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Damon Grimes — at least for now. Grimes, of Detroit, was illegally riding an ATV on city streets when state police troopers spotted and … Read more
Richard A. Metcalf Jr. died five years ago Thursday after Holding Center deputies knotted a spit mask around his neck and pulled a pillow case over his head. Though a state agency urged prosecutors to consider charging key jail deputies in the inmate’s death, two potential counts are now off the table: manslaughter and criminally … Read more
CHARLOTTE – The family of an unarmed teenager shot and killed during a traffic stop more than two years ago has settled a federal lawsuit against the police officer who shot him for $2.4 million, attorneys for his family said Thursday. The settlement comes just over two months after federal Judge Paul Maloney declined to … Read more
Michael Slager’s loved ones recently saw the former North Charleston policeman in jail, and they left with his clothes. It might be one of the last times in years that Slager will see them beyond the walls of a federal prison. How long it will take before he emerges a free man is a question … Read more
PHOENIX – The murder trial of former Mesa police officer Philip “Mitch” Brailsford is coming to a close. On Thursday, jurors heard from the final witnesses in the case. Closing arguments are set for Tuesday, and then the jury will begin their deliberations. Thursday morning, the prosecution finished cross-examination of Brailsford. Prosecutor Susie Charbel went … Read more