Accessibility | A concussion grenade was thrown into the apartment; Spruill, a city employee who was getting ready to leave for work, suffered a heart attack and died. The complaint alleges that Officer Harrison, the cop who shot Ayers, wasn't even authorized to arrest him. He suggested allowing a grand jury to investigate further about possible policy violations or civil liability. In hostage situations, for example, a SWAT team can save lives. According to Ayerss lawsuit, the woman was about to be evicted from the motel at which she was staying. OnJuly 12, 1998, Houston officers raided Navarroshome based on an alleged drug users claim that drugs were being sold there. He died four hours later at the local hospital of his gunshot wound. "The vigilantes will get their justice, hopefully, in civil court. In September 2009, the Attorney General Eric Holder recently addressed the war on drugs during a speech for the American Bar Associations annual meeting, calling for the United States to seriously reevaluate its harsh policy of mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent, low-level drug offenses. Apologists for the killing claimed that Mena (a Mexican immigrant) had a gun, and LeRoy Lemos (a community activist) responded: If police hadn't gotten the wrong house, Mena would be alive. An investigation revealed that after Johnstons death, a major coverup was attempted, including planting bags of marijuana in her house and trying to bully White into lying and saying that Johnston was selling crack cocaine. Local law enforcement knew sorting out the shooting would be difficult. Authorities say they found nothing illegal in Jonathan Ayers' car after he was slain during a drug sting. But critics say that is when Harrison pulled his gun. By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Required fields are marked *. After reviewing the GBI report and interviewing six witnesses five police officers and one expert in police use of force the grand jury ruled Harris' use of lethal force "legally justifiable based upon his objectively reasonable belief that such use of force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or others." Jonathan Paul Ayers, a pastor at the small Shoal Creek Baptist Church, was shot outside a Toccoa convenience store by plainclothes drug agents on Sept. 1. Based on that finding, jurors said officers involved in the incident "would be immune from criminal prosecution" under Georgia law. Ayers widow, Abigail, responded with a civil lawsuit seeking damages for gross and plain incompetence by both officers and their supervisors in March 2010. He was charged with two counts of felony discharge of a firearm and seven counts of aggravated assault, all second and third-degree felonies. Rickman, Terrell, and the other sheriff who oversees the task force were all reelected. Grand jury to review police shooting of Georgia pastor, Probe of Georgia pastor's shooting expected to take another month, Rally planned for Georgia pastor killed in botched drug sting, Georgia Baptist pastor killed in botched drug sting. When he returned and got into his car they pounced. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, N.C., before reporting to the 173rd in July 2006. Those were bad. No drugs were found in her house. This article originally appeared on Alternet. Worse, the man they pounced upon wasn't the target of their investigation. No matter what the misconduct is, the police are always exonerated., ACLU members were critical of the way the raid was handled and asserted that a no-knock raid was totally uncalled for; Mark Silverstein, legal director for the Colorado ACLU, said, If the government officials who authorized the warrant had followed the law, Ismael Mena would be alive today.. A federal judge has awarded more than $800,000 in legal fees to the Hall County widow of a pastor fatally shot by law enforcement. "The video seemed to be the main catalyst for a lot of anger," Rickman said. When Chavalia and other narcotics officers raided the house where Wilson was living, Terry was nowhere to be found. Heres when your childs school will get one. They are no better than a domestic terrorist, because they dont care about families they didnt care about the family, the children living in that household to be selling dope out of it, to be selling methamphetamine out of it. But Abigail Ayers' civil suit (PDF) calls that assessment into question. Instead, Ayers had either been ministering to or having an affair with (depending on whom you believe) Johanna Kayla Jones Barrett, the actual target of the investigation. Though I know they can't all be good. The decision to raid the Paz home, according to Ankeny, was made after narcotics officers found some bills and Department of Motor Vehicle records containing the familys address among the possessions of a drug suspect named Marcos Beltrn. Harrison was serving on the Mountain Judicial Circuit Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression Team. AlthoughChavalia was acquitted of criminal charges, Wilsons family was awarded $2.5 million in 2010 in a civil lawsuit against the city of Lima. Subscribe to Reason Roundup, a wrap up of the last 24 hours of news, delivered fresh each morning. The law cited by the grand jury states in part that a person who uses threats or force in defense of self or others is immune from criminal prosecution. Radley Balko is a senior editor at Reason magazine. "And later he ran off the road. "I think I would try to run over them or get away the best way I could.". The grand jury hearing was the most one-sided miscarriage of justice that I have ever heard of. Wilson, a single mother, had been romantically involved with a suspected drug dealer named Anthony Terry (who later pled guilty to selling drugs). At an inquest, a predominantly white jury decided that the shooting was accidental and that Baggett should not be charged with anything. The family of Jonathan Ayers has also filed a lawsuit against the police agency that killed him. A total of 30 bullets were fired, and Navarro was shot 12 times. From there he was taken to a hospital where he later died from massive blood loss. More astonishing, Harrison apparently had no training at all in the use of lethal force. Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? WebThe incident happened about 5:15 a.m. in a home near 1600 West and Center Street. 3.1.2023 12:30 AM, Jacob Sullum The police-involved shooting (You can watch surveillance video of the altercation here.) They ordered him not to put the car in reverse, but Ayers did so anyway and accelerated, making contact with an officer behind the car. Ayers, attempting to leave the scene, was shot by Harrison. In a democratic republic, the innocent until proven guilty concept is supposed to be sacrosanct.Jurors, police officers, judges and prosecuting attorneysat least in theoryare required to err on the side of caution, and if a guilty person occasionally goes free, so be it. In fact, the 75-year-old minister was a substance abuse counselor in Boston and had a long history of doing good work in that citys African-American community. In September 2009, Johnathan Ayers, a 28-year-old Baptist pastor from Lavonia, Ga., was gunned down by a North Georgia narcotics task force in the parking lot of a gas station. According to Bankhead, Ayers then put the car into drive, and another officer fired into the car, hitting Ayers, because he thought his life was in danger. The woman the police were following. One of the bullets reportedly grazed one of the victims. He wasnt authorized to make arrests or to carry a gun. These are some of the best places to take them in Hall County, Best breakfast in Hall County? Narcotics officer Frank Baggett, Jr. said that when he kicked down the door to Dixons bedroom, he stumbledwhich caused his gun to go off and sent a bullet into Dixons chest. Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here. He suspects they are private detectives. Joe Lancaster Stephens County District Attorney Brian Rickman and Assistant District Attorney Rick Bridgeman presented the case. No drugs were found in the house, and Bill Ankeny (El Montes assistant police chief) later acknowledged that there was never any evidence of the Paz family being involved in drug dealing. Chavalia later said he thought shots were coming from that bedroom, but the fact that he killed an unarmed woman holding a baby was inexcusable, especially in light of the fact that Wilson, according to her sister Tania Wilson, was not involved in drug sales herself. 345 homes proposed in this area at Hall-Gwinnett County line, Man indicted in strangling death, attorney says he maintains his innocence, These Hall high schools named Honor Schools for success in AP classes, Georgia Senate seeks to allow rural hospitals without permit. undercover with the Mountain Judicial Circuit Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression team on the night of the shooting, Sept. 1, 2009. Franklin said in an interview with the AJC. Spotting the vehicle parked outside a gas station and recognizing Ayers as the man they had seen earlier, officers rushed to question him, blocking him in as he started to back out of a parking space. The officers claim they spotted Ayers dropping off a woman they were investigating as detectives in a multi-county drug task force. In a split second, Ayers car is seen backing up and striking Oxner, and Harrison shoots. They followed the car as Ayers dropped the woman off at a gas station. Barley was arraigned virtually before a judge in 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from jail Monday afternoon. He died at the hospital. Let's say that you (which would include 99 percent of the people reading this) aren't a drug dealer, or a mobster, or some other sort of career criminal. * Cpl. Ayers is yet more collateral damage in the boundlessly tragic and wasteful drug war, as are his widowed wife Abigail and the child she was carrying at the time of his death. 6. Both units serve Habersham County and are under the jurisdiction of Sheriff Joey Terrel and DA Brian Rickman. And not too many cases were it's obvious the shooting was bad or even unnecessary. Here's some tips, Column: Cherish your memories while you have them, Column: The journey to Athens used to be a five-hour railcar ride, Column: Buttering up guests with fresh biscuits, Local practice offers expert medical care, GoToHearing provides professional, caring service, Have guests in town? Up until that moment, Ayers was known to most as a man devoted to his family and faith. Its also a bit much to call Thonetheva a terrorist shortly after his own officers have just burned a baby. Judge in 1st District court, appearing jonathan ayers shooting web conference from jail Monday afternoon,... Habersham County and are under the jurisdiction of sheriff Joey Terrel and DA Brian and. Catalyst for a lot of anger, '' Rickman said up and striking Oxner, the... Out the shooting was bad or even unnecessary multi-county drug task force were all reelected be good an alleged users! 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