SeanTX
01-29-2014, 05:50 PM
Kelly Thomas' dad was right, it's "cart blanche" for officers to do whatever they want . Interesting that the other officer was fired for filing a false report in another case, when in this case both of them allegedly tampered with the scene (picking up spent shells, etc).
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/29/6112603/grand-jury-declines-to-indict.html#storylink=cpy
Grand jury declines to indict officer who killed homeowner
By DEANNA BOYD
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 - 12:00 am
FORT WORTH, Texas -- A Fort Worth police officer will not face charges for fatally shooting a 72-year-old Texas homeowner while investigating a burglary alarm at the wrong house, a Tarrant County jury decided Wednesday.
The decision to "no-bill" R.A. "Alex" Hoeppner in the death of Jerry Waller came a week after prosecutors began presenting the case to the grand jury.
Waller died May 28 after being shot multiple times by Hoeppner as the officer and a partner searched for a possible burglary suspect after being dispatched to a burglary alarm call across the street.
Family members have said Waller, suspecting a prowler was outside, grabbed his gun and had gone to investigate when he was shot.
Documents indicate Hoeppner fired at Waller after he refused the officers' demands to drop his weapon and pointed it at Hoeppner.
Ben Hanlon, who was also present during the encounter with Waller but who did not fire his gun, was fired by the department in October in an unrelated matter.
snip
Jim Lane, Hoeppner's defense attorney, was having lunch with the Fort Worth officer when he received the call that the grand jury had no-billed Hoeppner.
"I looked at him and said, 'The grand jury no-billed you.' He just hung his head and took a big sigh," Lane said. "When they say it looks like a cloud was lifted off somebody's head, that's exactly what it looked like to me."
Lane said the case has weighed heavily on Hoeppner.
"Officer Hoeppner comes from a police family. His father was a very respected Fort Worth captain when he retired," Lane said. "This has been a heavy burden on Hoeppner and his family. I think one of the first thing he wants people know, especially the Waller family, is he sends his sympathies to them."
Lane said Hoeppner had gone through the police department's training academy and was properly trained. He said a law enforcement expert, considered one of the best in the country, was among witnesses brought in to testify before the grand jury.
"It's a tragedy but Hoeppner was doing actually how he was trained when confronted with the facts that he was confronted with," Lane said.
snip
"I think the community can rest assured that this was the correct decision and Hoeppner is a fine young officer," Lane added. "He has been back at work and he will continue to protect and serve the people of Fort Worth."
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/29/6112603/grand-jury-declines-to-indict.html#storylink=cpy
Grand jury declines to indict officer who killed homeowner
By DEANNA BOYD
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 - 12:00 am
FORT WORTH, Texas -- A Fort Worth police officer will not face charges for fatally shooting a 72-year-old Texas homeowner while investigating a burglary alarm at the wrong house, a Tarrant County jury decided Wednesday.
The decision to "no-bill" R.A. "Alex" Hoeppner in the death of Jerry Waller came a week after prosecutors began presenting the case to the grand jury.
Waller died May 28 after being shot multiple times by Hoeppner as the officer and a partner searched for a possible burglary suspect after being dispatched to a burglary alarm call across the street.
Family members have said Waller, suspecting a prowler was outside, grabbed his gun and had gone to investigate when he was shot.
Documents indicate Hoeppner fired at Waller after he refused the officers' demands to drop his weapon and pointed it at Hoeppner.
Ben Hanlon, who was also present during the encounter with Waller but who did not fire his gun, was fired by the department in October in an unrelated matter.
snip
Jim Lane, Hoeppner's defense attorney, was having lunch with the Fort Worth officer when he received the call that the grand jury had no-billed Hoeppner.
"I looked at him and said, 'The grand jury no-billed you.' He just hung his head and took a big sigh," Lane said. "When they say it looks like a cloud was lifted off somebody's head, that's exactly what it looked like to me."
Lane said the case has weighed heavily on Hoeppner.
"Officer Hoeppner comes from a police family. His father was a very respected Fort Worth captain when he retired," Lane said. "This has been a heavy burden on Hoeppner and his family. I think one of the first thing he wants people know, especially the Waller family, is he sends his sympathies to them."
Lane said Hoeppner had gone through the police department's training academy and was properly trained. He said a law enforcement expert, considered one of the best in the country, was among witnesses brought in to testify before the grand jury.
"It's a tragedy but Hoeppner was doing actually how he was trained when confronted with the facts that he was confronted with," Lane said.
snip
"I think the community can rest assured that this was the correct decision and Hoeppner is a fine young officer," Lane added. "He has been back at work and he will continue to protect and serve the people of Fort Worth."