Once it happened to my sons best friend, I said it could happen to my son so it was too close to home to not do anything about it., Dozens of people gathered outside the sheriffs office after the memorial service for a rally with Brittains family, attorneys and the NAACP. The jury was asked a series of questions related to law enforcement and their opinions. The two conflicting narratives were hampered by the fact that Davis body camera was never turned on during the quick encounter. Without all the evidence I cannot make any determination on whether the shooting was proper.. After another pre-trial hearing on March 14, the trial will officially begin on March 15. ", Davis then starts yelling at a passenger, Jordan King, "What are y'all driving the vehicle like that?". Davis attorney, Robert Newcomb, said the report throws doubt on earlier statements from Brittains family members and their attorneys that the teen was shot three times. Unfortunately no one was ever trained on what the "if possible" meant. Newcomb, a Little Rock attorney who often represents police officers, requested a grievance hearing on behalf of Davis from Lonoke County. Crump and Jacob invoked other people killed by police, including Breonna Taylor, a Kentucky woman who was fatally shot during a botched police raid. Michael Davis, a former police sergeant in Arkansas, has been charged with manslaughter for "recklessly" shooting and Hunter Brittain, an unarmed 17-year-old killed during a traffic stop. Michael Davis took the stand as the defense's last witness. And also justice for all of our other brothers and sisters dying at the hands of law enforcement hired to protect and serve us around this country.. Sharpton eulogized 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was shot and killed by a white Lonoke County sheriff's deputy, Sgt. The report said that a sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office who has been identified as Michael Davis conducted a traffic stop at Arkansas 89 and Tower Road when the decedent [Brittain] got out of the vehicle and got something out of the back before moving toward the sergeant, after which the sergeant fired his weapon. Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham said he had received the Arkansas State Police case file on the deadly shooting of the teen during a June 23 traffic stop. In shooting case, office failed to quickly cut police contact, Family and friends of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, including his uncle, Harley Brittain (left), hold a rally outside the Lonoke County sheriff's office in Lonoke in this June 23, 2021, file photo. The vehicle was smoking and making loud noises, Davis and King have said. Davis said he gave commands to Brittain to show his hands that were ignored. Staley said the only footage police have is from the aftermath. You know, he'll go back to force," she said. All I wanted from day one is for him to get a felony where he could not be in law enforcement again and carry a weapon. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. Scott Hundley said this is the beginning of what's going to be a long week for those close to Brittain. During the trial, King told the jury that Brittain had been working on replacing his transmission all night. During his instruction it states that you must tell the subject you are going to shoot them before "if possible." A former Arkansas deputy was convicted on Friday of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail for shooting an unarmed teenager whose death last year drew the attention of national civil rights leaders. On June 23, 2021, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was test driving his truck after making repairs early in the morning when he was pulled over by former Lonoke County Sgt. Both were lawyers in George Floyd's murder case. A jury found former Lonoke County Sgt. Davis is white. I cant speak to what different offices practice are. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. A jury found former Lonoke County Sgt. Graham said hes sent the file to the state prosecutor coordinator since hes requested a special prosecutor to handle the case. Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy in June, died of gunshot wounds in his neck and arm, according to a coroner's report released Wednesday. Davis claimed he didn't realize he didn't turn on his body camera until after the shots were fired. Few details about the shooting have been officially released over the past two months. Melissia McMahan, who is the Brittain familys mail carrier and knew the teen since he was a toddler, said she had thought about the need for police reform before Brittains death but hadnt thought it was something her own community would face. I dont think he did anything that clearly prejudiced Davis rights in the case.. That is why it is very crucial for prosecutors to be as clear and transparent as they can be. James Golden, a professor of criminal justice at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, echoed Marque Heydaris comments. At that point, that was within a couple days of the event.. The defense also added and went through every reason why Davis feared for his life and fired the gun. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment. I never touched it, Graham said when asked about the file. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hes currently being held in an undisclosed jail, after being booked in Lonoke County. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. As mourners filed into the high school auditorium Tuesday morning, photos and video of Brittain were displayed on a large screen above his casket, which was decorated with blue and white ribbons, the Chevrolet symbol and Forever Chevy 17. Family members said Brittain dreamed of becoming a NASCAR driver after graduation. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. This is something, Jesse Brittain, the boys uncle, told CBS News. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Davis was sentenced to 1-year in jail plus a $1,000 fine. In Arkansas, law enforcement agencies typically investigate cases while prosecutors make the decision on whether criminal charges will be filed. Michael Davis near Cabot, Arkansas, United States. Brittain made his way to the truck bed, where he grabbed a blue coolant jug. Details about when the camera was activated and what footage was captured arent publicly known because Freedom of Information Act requests for the footage have been denied. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. No matter which side you looked at, it was a difficult week for everyone. The jury handed down a one-year jail sentence and a $1,000 fine -- the maximum penalty for the charge -- after finding Davis guilty. The former deputy said Brittain wasn't listening and his hands were in the back of the truck and that's when Davis fired at Brittain. The report from the Pulaski County coroner said the initial 911 call came in at 3:08 a.m. on June 23 and Brittain was pronounced dead around 3:58 a.m. by an attending physician at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. In an interview with Davis, he said he initiated the traffic stop of Brittain's white GMC truck and heard "the truck's engine rev up and then began to travel southbound in the northbound lane." Jurors found Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriff's office, guilty in the shooting death last year of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a traffic stop. The state rested their case and the defense will start on Thursday, March 17, at 9 a.m. During the third day of trial, the defense brought up their witnesses. A special prosecutor announced the felony charge against Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office, in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. There were no indications of drug and alcohol use listed on the coroners report. Taped interviews with Staley and Davis were still being redacted by the state police as of Friday and will be released at a later date. The law states that records, files and information kept, obtained or retained by the lab are privileged and confidential and that only a defendant, attorney of defendant or prosecuting attorney can be granted access to records pertaining to a defendants criminal case.. Are people gonna have to fear for their life again? Didn't put the truck in park, nothing," Davis says. The case made national headlines and gained the attention of civil-rights activists, including the Rev. People protesting the killing of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain doing burnouts in the parking lot of the Lonoke County sheriff's office. Are people going to have to fear for their lives again? she told reporters. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory cant publicly release the autopsy report because of Arkansas Code 1212-312, Director Kermit Channell said. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Post your articles here so that everyone will have a chance to see our government at work (or showing their lack thereof) taking their own to task! The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis was also given a $1,000 fine. Davis said that before he could put his own car in park, Brittain jumped out and moved to the rear of the truck and began reaching into the bed as it slowly rolled backward. They know exactly what they are doing. A Freedom of Information Act request for communication between Graham and the Arkansas State Police shows there was some contact between the two agencies between the time of the shooting and Grahams recusal. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. The email went on to state, Chuck Graham, Lonoke Prosecuting Attorney, has further opposed the release of the body camera footage related to this incident at this time. When asked by the Democrat-Gazette, Graham confirmed that he continued to communicate with the state police agency up until filing his recusal. Jesse Brittain, Hunters uncle, received a standing ovation when he called for an end to qualified immunity for police officers, a legal doctrine that frequently shields them from civil lawsuits for things they do in the course of their job. The only thing that bothered me is that they checked with Graham and they wouldnt let us look at the video, Newcomb said. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and other media outlets have requested footage of the shooting for the past nine months, since the incident happened. Example video title will go here for this video. Davis, an eight-year veteran with the Lonoke County Sheriffs office, gave the boy commands to stop and shot him before he could see what he was retrieving, which turned out to be a jug of antifreeze. Hey, ever wounder what happened at the end of that case?? An Arkansas sheriff's deputy shot and killed a teenager after a traffic stop early Wednesday, officials said. Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe). Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. I'll say I'm not necessarily surprised by that burden," he said. He would have faced between three and 10 years in prison for manslaughter, a felony. My chief deputy hand carried it up to Bob McMahan. On July 14, two weeks after Graham first announced his recusal, the Arkansas State Police denied the Arkansas Democrat-Gazettes Freedom of Information Act request for body-camera footage, saying the video is part of an active investigation. The civil rights attorneys, who represented George Floyds family after Minneapolis police killed him in May 2020, said: Hunter deserved better. Brittain was fatally shot by a deputy during a traffic stop . Davis said mentioned several things that led to him firing his gun. Brittains family has said the teenager was unarmed and was holding a jug of antifreeze when he was shot. The white teens death prompted protests in a region of the state not known for speaking out against police violence. The killing in the predominantly white community has drawn the attention of national civil rights activists . "I was hoping for a not guilty verdict on both charges. Davis pulled over Hunter Brittain, 17, on June 23, 2021, outside Cabot, a small town 30 miles north of Little Rock. Brittains family and friends have held protests nightly outside the Lonoke County sheriffs office and have complained about the lack of information released. Ex-deputy charged with manslaughter in death of Arkansas teen out on bond. Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley a week after the shooting for breaking a department policy that requires deputies body cameras to be turned on before interactions with the public. Chuck. Text messages sent later that day and on June 28 were redacted by the state police agency. Jury deliberations lasted less than three hours. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. They think that it is not appropriate for anybody who has a conflict of interest to weigh in and deny them due process of a fair and impartial and completely independent investigation as to what happened to their child. Newcomb said he wasnt concerned with the file being passed to Graham. A passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands. The biggest thing about his testimony was that he said he never heard Davis give any verbal cues until after Brittain was shot. He also shared what made him fear for his life, which consequently made him fire his gun. Family members said Brittain was grabbing a container that held antifreeze to place behind the trucks wheel, to stop it rolling backward. Hunter Brittain (left) and then-Sgt. Weeks later the investigative file was sent to his office, and the state polices denial regarding the release of body-camera footage related to the shooting cited Grahams opinion on the issue. Davis,. Print Headline: Lonoke deputy fatally shot teen Hunter Brittain in neck, arm, coroner says. Who is Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by Arkansas police? Davis turned himself inon Friday, Sept. 17, after the special prosecuting attorney issued an arrest warrant for manslaughter. "Why'd he hop out of the truck and grab that? He remains free on bond pending appeal. The law states that records, files and information kept, obtained or retained by the lab are privileged and confidential and that only a defendant, attorney of defendant or prosecuting attorney can be granted access to records pertaining to a defendants criminal case.. The video starts with Davis saying, "Shots fired, shots fired," across his radio. There were no indications of drug and alcohol use listed on the coroners report. The family is going to continue to trust the process, Jacob said. Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, representing Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. "It's going to be hard, it's been hard, it's been hard since June," he said. One officer was convicted of murder in Floyds death. CPR is started almost immediately. The teen didnt respond to verbal commands given by the deputy, Necomb said. Michael Davis to spend a year in jail but acquitted of manslaughter over death of Hunter Brittain, 17, during June traffic stop. Every state, every locality, is different, Marque Heydari said. King was in the car with Brittain in the early morning hours of June 23, 2021. Both are representing Brittains family. "[It's] going to cost him $15,000 to go home and be with his family, while we're at a loss. While it is difficult to wait for answers, it is important that the investigation that occurs is both fair and complete.. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? King said he never heard any commands from Davis before the gunshot. Hunter did nothing wrong, just like we felt George Floyd did nothing wrong, Sharpton told reporters before the memorial. Brittain turned into a nearby parking lot and jumped out of the backward moving vehicle and reached into the back of the truck, he said. Details about when the camera was activated and what footage was captured arent publicly known because Freedom of Information Act requests for the footage have been denied. More than a month after a Lonoke County deputy shot and killed 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, officials have yet to release body camera footage amid a national conversation about police. The maximum jail term faced by Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke county sheriffs office, was one year. Newcomb has said Brittain was pulled over by Davis because his vehicle was smoking heavily and an engine was knocking. Once he gets back? On 1 July, the the sheriffs office announced it had fired sergeant Davis for failing to comply with the agencys body camera policy. I do all the on-call stuff, Graham said in a phone conversation last week. Once we have the autopsy report, we will know more.. The trial for a former Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy accused of killing an unarmed teenager during a traffic stop happened this week. They argued that the shooting shows how police violence affects all people and called for reform. Suspect in shooting of Springdale woman shot by officer after pointing gun at police, Communication program for people with nonverbal autistm coming to Fort Smith, Heavy rain and storms likely to increase Thursday across Arkansas, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Special prosecutors, who dont have connections to the police agency, are then appointed by the Arkansas prosecutor coordinator, Bob McMahan. It was released after the March 18 closure of a trial in which Davis, 31, was convicted of misdemeanor negligent homicide in the death of the 17-year-old from McRae. Your life had meaning, youre loved and your family will not stop advocating until we have justice for you, Hunter, his uncle Jesse said at his eulogy. Phillips received the investigative file on July 15, according to an email from the prosecutor coordinating office. Davis, Newcomb said. On Nov. 15, former Lonoke County Sgt. "I don't think it's fair. Heres what you need to know. The jury finding Davis guilty of negligent homicide instead of manslaughter, is something that worried Payne, as it means Davis could go back to wearing a badge in the future. According to the affidavit, when Brittain pulled over and got out of the car, he started moving to the truck bed as the truck was rolling backward toward Davis' patrol car. The Arkansas State Police released video Friday from the body camera of former Lonoke County Deputy Michael Davis, taken the night 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was fatally shot during a. He has not responded to numerous emails requesting updates on the investigation, including a message sent Wednesday. Mike Davis plead not guilty to felony manslaughter in the death of Hunter Brittain. There's no way around it and nobody's gonna change my mind about it," he said. [2] Killing [ edit] Ultimately the 12 jurors were seated-- made up of nine women, three men, and two alternates. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Rison hit by Wednesday night storm damage, Arkansas state legislators hit the court in Hoops, Growing old and hungry: Shelbys Pantry in Carlisle, Arkansas LEARNS Act passes through House Education, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, AR legislators play in charity basketball game, AR pantry helps to end hunger in elderly community, LEARNS Act passes through House Ed. While everyone in the makeshift courtroom in Cabot was quiet when they heard the decision, they said a lot to once they exited the doors. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Videos from body cameras show moments after deputy fired fatal shot, The Arkansas State Police released video Friday from the body camera of former Lonoke County Deputy Michael Davis, taken the night 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was fatally shot during a traffic stop near Cabot. Robert Newcomb, Davis' defense attorney, has said Davis believed that he had turned the camera on and didn't realize it wasn't working until after firing the shot that killed Brittain. He said Davis missed one of the three steps needed to activate the camera. One of their witnesses included a law enforcement officer who has trained many officers of when to use deadly force. They didnt say one word that I know of, he told KATV. It was emotional for witnesses and Brittain's family, many of them had to step out of the courtroom. The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain, the attorneys said. Davis has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2013. Well, wonder no more! The document says what it says, Jacob said. According to an affidavit read by Phillips at a press conference, Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. Davis told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit. I think its murder, she said. It soon shows Davis telling another deputy, Nathaniel Rice, "The guy jumped out of the f****** truck and grabbed something out of the back, and it was a f****** oil can. The family's attorney, Devon Jacob said they aren't going to focus on the charges, but rather look at the meaning behind the jury's decision. Authorities have released few details about the shooting. Kwami Abdul-Bey, legislative/political action chairman for the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP, said the measure would include a position at the Arkansas attorney generals office that would be responsible for investigating police shootings or brutality cases.
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