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. The killing in the predominantly white community has drawn the attention of national civil rights activists such as Sharpton, who said concerns about police tactics arent just limited to the Black community. Pierson pled guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Didn't put the truck in park, nothing," Davis says. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. 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. It was unclear what impact Sharptons and the attorneys calls for action would have in Lonoke County, a rural county of 73,000 people that is 90% white. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Both are representing Brittains family. The charge was brought by special prosecutor Jeff Phillips of the 5th Judicial District after Lonoke County prosecutor Chuck Graham recused himself from the case. Sheriff John Staley said that Davis had not turned on his body camera at the start of the traffic stop and only activated the device after the shooting had happened. Davis then moves to sit in another vehicle by himself. While investigating the incident, Lonoke County Sheriff's Office discovered that Davis' body camera footage had only been turned on after Brittain had been shot. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Al Sharpton, left, and attorney Benjamin Crump, right, escort Rebecca Payne to view her grandson's casket during the funeral service for 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at the Beebe High Schools Auditorium in Beebe, Ark. An investigator with the Arkansas State Police was called to the stand after. Davis was originally charged with felony manslaughter Sept. 17. Brittains family has said the teenager was unarmed and was holding a jug of antifreeze when he was shot. "It was cold-blooded murder by the Lonoke police. On July 1, over a week after Brittain's death, Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley announced through a Facebook video Thursday that former Sergeant Mike Davis was fired due to policy violations. Davis, Newcomb said. If there is a conflict of interest that exists and you are aware of that conflict of interest and you participate then it certainly would appear to the public that there is a hint of impropriety, Crump said. He would have faced between three and 10 years in prison for manslaughter, a felony. The memorial included calls to pass federal legislation in Floyds name to overhaul police practices. 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. Im his grandmother. 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 civil rights attorneys, who represented George Floyds family after Minneapolis police killed him in May 2020, said: Hunter deserved better. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Now that the trial has begun, Brittain's Aunt Mary Robertson is praying that that accountability happens in the coming days. Brttain went to the bed to get something(transmission fluid / anti-freeze) for the truck. the officer fired 1 shot killing the teen. What were the ramification to the LEO that decided to break their oath?? All rights reserved. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. He said Davis gave verbal commands directing Brittain stay in the vehicle. Closing arguments lasted a little over an hour. We acknowledge that is going to be much harder in a smaller office. The institute released a tool kit in 2019 to help prosecutors when addressing officer-involved fatalities. King, 16 at the time, said the teens had previously used a coolant container to stop the truck from rolling back. He is the first law enforcement officer to be convicted by an Arkansas jury for an on-duty shooting in recent history. Michael Davis to spend a year in jail but acquitted of manslaughter over death of Hunter Brittain, 17, during June traffic stop. "We're glad that we're finally at this point. Michael Davis near Cabot, Arkansas, United States. [DOCUMENT: Coroners report for Noah Hunter Brittain arkansasonline.com/coronerbrittain]. Brittain was shot by a Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy during a traffic stop on June 23. Few details about the shooting have been officially released over the past two months. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A key piece to the kit involves prosecutors clearly outlining decisions for the public. 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. 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. An Arkansas sheriff's deputy shot and killed a teenager after a traffic stop early Wednesday, officials said. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Davis mentioned Brittain's 'loud' and 'smoking' truck, along with their interaction happening 3 a.m. If convicted, he could face three to 10 years in prison. 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. Phillips received the investigative file on July 15, according to an email from the prosecutor coordinating office. King responds that the truck wouldn't shift into park. "There's a lot of wrongful police and I'm not saying all police are bad because I have law enforcement in my family, but it's the ones, like this, that give them bad names and he needs to be held accountable for it," he said. Michael Davis after Brittain exited his truck to put a blue plastic bottle of antifreeze behind a wheel because the vehicle wouldnt shift into park. Davis testified that he thought the teen was grabbing for a gun. 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. In an interview with investigators, 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. I cant speak to what different offices practice are. Killing of Hunter Brittain Read Edit View history At approximately 3:00 am ( CDT) on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was unarmed, was shot by Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. You know, he'll go back to force," she said. It will be automatic. Abdul-Bey said prosecutors involvement in police-shooting cases has faced increased scrutiny since Little Rock resident Bradley Black-shire was fatally shot by officer Charles Starks on Feb. 22, 2019. Were ready to find out something. 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. Michael Davis guilty of negligent homicide in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. Honestly, I try to do the right thing. The killing in the predominantly white community has drawn the attention of national civil rights activists . 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. We'll never have Hunter standing with us again.". 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 case made national headlines and gained the attention of civil-rights activists, including the Rev. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The case has attracted nationwide calls for police reform, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The video was first seen by the public during the first day of Davis' trial. This is my opinion. Crump said a proposed bill that is being referred to as Hunters Law would include a mandate that body cameras be active during interactions between police and civilians and that those videos be released immediately to the public. The Arkansas State Police on Friday released body camera footage showing the moments after former Lonoke County sheriff's Deputy Michael Davis fatally shot Hunter Brittain during an early morning traffic stop June 23. 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. There were no indications of drug and alcohol use listed on the coroners report. The only ones are at the very top and that's so the jury will not be able to hear anything going on outside. On June 24, Graham sent an email to state police special agent Robert Middleton saying, Per our phone conversation, we will not be releasing the body camera video of the recent Officer Involved Shooting in Lonoke County at this time. Chances are you haven't yet heard about 17-year-old Hunter Brittain who, despite being unarmed, was shot dead by police during a traffic stop. We hope that the jury can see the things that we see," she said. Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off orders over 15 with this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. TIL Sam Kinison was killed by a drunk driving 17 year old, Troy Pierson. About 9:45 into the video, another officer comes up to Davis and says, "Buddy, I'm going to put my gun in your holster.". People protesting the killing of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain doing burnouts in the parking lot of the Lonoke County sheriff's office. Davis is white. Print Headline: Lonoke deputy fatally shot teen Hunter Brittain in neck, arm, coroner says, Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. Hunter Brittain (left) and then-Sgt. Hunter's Uncle, Jesse Brittain, said all they wanted was acknowledgment and an apology. The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain, the attorneys said. He told the state police when he was interviewed by them that he shot one time and why. 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. No. After a few minutes, he can be heard crying. Few details about the shooting have been officially released over the past two months. 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. Jury deliberations lasted less than three hours. 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.. In July, Phillips, a prosecutor from a district on the other side of the state, was assigned to handle the case. Staley on Monday said he welcomed those who want to peacefully protest, but that out-of-state activists could risk inflaming an already difficult situation.. Brittain was up late working on the vehicles transmission before taking the test drive, family members have said. The report was first requested by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on July 8. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The teen didnt respond to verbal commands given by the deputy, Necomb said. Robert Newcomb, Daviss attorney, said he planned to challenge the standard jurors used to determine whether Davis was negligent. 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." 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. Due to that failure, I have terminated the employment of this deputy, the sheriff said in a video statement on Facebook. Famed attorney Ben Crump named one of TIME's100 Most Influential People, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in. Davis,. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A memorial for Hunter Brittain in Beebe, Arkansas last year. The coroners report does not specify how many times Brittain was shot but does list the immediate cause/manner of death as gunshot wound of neck and arm. The firearm was listed as a police-issued, semi-automatic pistol. The jury handed down a one-year jail sentence and a $1,000 fine -- the maximum penalty for the charge -- after finding Davis guilty. According to the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office, Sergeant Michael Davis initiated the traffic stop at 3 a.m. on June 23. He was my grandson. Graham said hes sent the file to the state prosecutor coordinator since hes requested a special prosecutor to handle the case. Your life had meaning, youre loved and your family will not stop advocating until we have justice for you, Hunter, he said. The family of Mr Brittain, who dreamed of being a NASCAR racing driver, was heartbroken over the shooting and called for full transparency from the sheriffs department. The trial is taking place at the Cabot Readiness Center, where it was moved from the Lonoke County courthouse, mainly due to the fact that there are not a lot of windows inside the courtroom. Mike Davis near a body shop in Cabot. What happened to the officer who shot Hunter Brittain? 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. Once we have the autopsy report, we will know more.. 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. Rice's camera moves at about 19 minutes into his video, and Brittain is no longer on the ground. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Al Sharpton gave a eulogy asking for the public to come together to help push for policing reforms. Davis said all of these things were the reason he felt afraid for his life and thought Brittain "was going to kill him.". Brittain was up late working on the vehicles transmission before taking the test drive, family members have said. "I was hoping for a not guilty verdict on both charges. The family of Brittain has hired Devon Jacob and Benjamin Crump to represent them in the case. The last witness called in by prosecution was Davis' former boss, Sheriff John Staley, who told the jury that Davis had issues with turning on his body camera in the past. Arkansas State Police investigated Davis use of deadly force and turned over its findings to Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips, who was named special prosecutor for the case July 12. (AP) The Rev. A family photo of Hunter Brittain, a 17-year-old boy from Arkansas who was shot during a traffic stop, when an officer saw him reaching for a jug in the back of his truck. One bullet can go through and cause injury in more than one location, Newcomb said. At that point, that was within a couple days of the event.. "Although Mr. Davis no longer works for my office, Ive been following this case closely. Once he gets back? He was sentenced to one year of probation and 300 hours of community service. 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. Early in the morning of 23 June, Hunter Brittain was hard at work fixing his truck so it would be ready in time to make his construction job at 6am. But King said Davis never gave any commands to Brittain before he shot him. 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! "We were a bit surprised about this sentencing, and that they were out in about 20 minutes and came back with a maximum sentence," he said. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. The county has not decided whether to grant the hearing, County Attorney Allen Dodson said Wednesday. The white teens death prompted protests in a region of the state not known for speaking out against police violence. 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. The state police were delayed in releasing the footage immediately after the trial as they waited on formal paperwork from the Lonoke County Circuit Court. After closing arguments, one juror had to leave for a medical emergency and they had to bring in an alternate juror, with deliberation beginning around 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. On July 1, a little more than a week after the shooting, Chuck Graham, prosecuting attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he planned to file a motion for the assignment of a special prosecutor. He later died at North Little Rock Hospital. At that point, that was within a couple days of the event.. During the trial, King told the jury that Brittain had been working on replacing his transmission all night. Larger agencies might not have the day-to-day contact with individual investigators, which you find in a small prosecutors office, Golden said. There is no body camera footage of the incident, though the officer had a camera in his possession. Im not sure we could set a policy at the national level that could cover all circumstances. Prosecutors are held accountable by elections, Golden said. The two were test-driving the vehicle about 3 a.m when Davis pulled them over. The maximum jail term faced by Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke county sheriffs office, was one year. Davis and King have said that Brittain jumped out of the truck as soon as he stopped for Davis. 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. Highway Patrol trooper on leave after fatal Morton County shooting. As they were getting pulled over, King said they were laughing and thought it was funny because the truck was smoking. Rev. Heres what you need to know. Brittain's family said he was working on his truck right before he drove it down the road and was pulled over by Davis. In Arkansas, law enforcement agencies typically investigate cases while prosecutors make the decision on whether criminal charges will be filed. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. Unfortunately no one was ever trained on what the "if possible" meant. Hey, ever wounder what happened at the end of that case?? Special prosecutors, who dont have connections to the police agency, are then appointed by the Arkansas prosecutor coordinator, Bob McMahan. I didn't say he was a mean guy. At times, prosecutors will recuse themselves and request a special prosecutor for cases involving law enforcement officers because of the relationship between the two bodies. I never thought anything like this would happen until it hit so close to home, said Scott Hendrickson, whose son was close friends with Brittain and who is . I never touched it, Graham said when asked about the file. Ex-deputy charged with manslaughter in death of Arkansas teen out on bond. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Moving forward, both Brittain's family and Michael Davis will be involved in separate civil lawsuits against the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office. Graham filed the motion for a special prosecutor on July 8, a week after a conversation with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Brittain turned into a lot off the highway and jumped out of the vehicle, which was rolling backward, Newcomb said Wednesday. Hunter Brittains family has called for police reform, including an end to qualified immunity, the legal doctrine that shields many police officers from legal action when accused of committing crimes in the court of their duty. The sentence has resulted in mixed emotions from many parties involved, that all had comments after the verdict. His press conference on Friday was brief and he refused to take questions. The video starts with Davis saying, "Shots fired, shots fired," across his radio. The state police released a majority of the investigative file Friday. Davis was sentenced to 1-year in jail plus a $1,000 fine. Staley also said the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office does not have dash cameras on its police vehicles. After Phillips announcement that a warrant would be issued for Davis arrest on Friday, the courtroom burst into cheers. 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. They should have no interaction with police officers because that can create a sense of bias, Marque Heydari said. Arkansas State Police are investigating Brittains death. While it is difficult to wait for answers, it is important that the investigation that occurs is both fair and complete.. Both were lawyers in George Floyd's murder case. Crump and Jacob also represented the family of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died May 25, 2020, while in police custody in Minneapolis. There's no way around it and nobody's gonna change my mind about it," he said. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Davis turned himself inon Friday, Sept. 17, after the special prosecuting attorney issued an arrest warrant for manslaughter. Former Arkansas deputy Michael Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide in the shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. 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. Well, wonder no more! He told the state police when he was interviewed by them that he shot one time and why. The file includes hundreds of documents, including Davis' employment record, body camera footage from deputies and Cabot police officers who responded, crime scene photos and interviews with witnesses. The document says what it says, Jacob said. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis was also given a $1,000 fine. According to a statement previously released by the Brittain familys attorney, the teen exited his truck to place a blue plastic bottle of antifreeze behind a wheel because the vehicle wouldnt shift into park. What has been the reaction to the shooting? Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. Wendy Lindsey, Hunters cousin, said in an interview shortly after the announcement on Friday that she was happy at least something was done. But she added that she didnt think the manslaughter charge for Davis was enough.

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