Fatal cop shooting going to grand jury
Porcus Ubiquitous
Friends, family demonstrate Monday
By Hali Cartee
Staff writer
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EATON, Ohio -- The investigation into Friday's fatal police shooting
of a West Alexandria man will go before a grand jury.
That's standard procedure for police shootings, Preble County
Prosecutor Rebecca Ferguson said Monday.
Meanwhile, the shooting remains under investigation by the Montgomery
County Sheriff's Department and the identity of the Lewisburg police
officer who shot and killed Clayton J. Helriggle, 23, remains under
wraps.
Preble County Sheriff Tom Hayes has declined to identify the officer
while Montgomery County officers continue their investigation of the
shooting.
Helriggle was shot when the Preble County Sheriff's Department
emergency services unit attempted to serve a search warrant at 1282
Ohio 503 South.
About 15 officers from the department and the Eaton, Lewisburg and
West Alexandria police departments were serving the warrant, part of a
narcotics investigation. Police found a small amount of marijuana,
pills, drug paraphernalia and material often used in packaging
marijuana at the residence.
Friends and family of Helriggle claimed Monday that he was carrying a
blue plastic cup of water, not a gun, when he was shot sometime around
6:45 p.m. Friday.
Preble County Sheriff Tom Hayes, however, said a gun was seen by the
officer.
"The officer saw a gun and one was recovered," Hayes said.
Copies of the search warrant and the investigative report of the
incident won't be available until Montgomery County completes its
investigation of the shooting, Hayes said.
Montgomery investigators could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Hayes said those officers were still interviewing people involved in
the incident.
"They're going through the procedure of how things went down," Hayes
said.
When members of the sheriff's department emergency services unit
arrived at Helriggle's residence, four people were inside and one was
outside, police said.
Hayes said the officer who fired the fatal round told investigators
that he saw Helriggle coming down the stairs holding a pistol,
prompting the Lewisburg officer to fire.
Helriggle died at the scene.
Family, friends protest
About 30 protesters -- family and friends of Helriggle -- lined the
front sidewalk to the Preble County Courthouse on Main Street in Eaton
Monday to protest the shooting.
They carried signs that read "We Love You Clay" and "Honk For
Justice."
Wesley Bradley, 26, of West Alexandria was Helriggle's roommate. He
said protesters were there to show that they were peaceful people.
Bradley and two other roommates say police gained entry to the home,
shouting for them to lie down. He added that there was no knock,
officers did not identify themselves and that flash grenades were
used.
"We're God fearing, peaceful people," Bradley said. "None of us (at
the residence) have records. We're getting it into the public eye that
it (the shooting) was wrong."
Ian Albert, 23, another roommate, said he went upstairs to wake
Helriggle from a nap and to tell him the police were at the residence.
He said he was lying at the bottom of the stairs when Helriggle was
coming down.
"He wasn't holding a gun," Albert said. "I want people to know that
cops need to train better. They can't make mistakes like that. This is
a real life job that doesn't allow mistakes."
Keisha Croley, 21, of West Alexandria was Helriggle's girlfriend for
five years. She said Monday morning she is filled with anger.
"I hope they know what kind of person they killed," Croley said.
The protest was to garner support, they said, adding they felt support
in the echoes of honking cars passing the courthouse.
Others brought soft drinks, bottled water and pizza to those
protesting the shooting. Others had donated $200 by Monday evening to
Helriggle's family.
Down the street, onlookers were watching the quiet demonstration.
Tony Peters, owner of Taffy's Main Street Coffee, commended the
protesters for bringing their concerns to the public's attention. He
said the issue has been a topic in the community.
"It may make other members of the community bring influence to judges
and law enforcement on how warrants are served," Peters said.
"Everyone has been concerned on how the warrant was issued with a
no-knock policy."
Kevin Conners lives downtown on East Main Street. He said he had
watched the protesters most of the day.
"I think this is a good thing," Conners said. "Something like this
always has the potential to get out of hand. People want to make the
point that justice should be served."
Conners said the crowd was mellow and restrained throughout the day.
MONCNTYdotCOM
is generated.
Sgt. John Brands of the Inspectional Services Unit of the Montgomery
County Sheriff's Office is most likely involved in the investigation.
The irony is that Mr. Brands just assumed his position after being
investigated at least twice by the same internal affairs division in
the past year for false statements and excessive force.
It is 'nice' that the Preble County Sheriff's Office is going to
another county for an objective investigation, but why choose such a
corrupt office like that in Montgomery County? John Brands cannot
offer an objective perspective in this investigation. I hope that the
family pursues civil action against the Preble County Sheriff. They
will get no support in any criminal action when the police protect
themselves.
MONTCNTY.COM exposes abuse in government.
Porcus Ubiquitous <sp...@nospam.com> wrote in message news:<abtqpuo6k0ss8cul1...@4ax.com>...