Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 Source: Lima News (OH) Copyright: 2008 Freedom Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.limanews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/990 Author: Greg Sowinski Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Tarika+Wilson (Tarika Wilson) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) THIRD STREET SHOOTING REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION LIMA -- No timetable will be placed on the investigation into the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old mother by a Lima Police Department SWAT team officer, a spokeswoman for a state investigatory agency said Tuesday. "It's going to be a detailed and thorough one," said Jennifer Brindisi, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. Brindisi said her agency was concerned about performing a complete investigation and she has no way of predicting how long that may take. The state agency has been called in to investigate the fatal shooting Friday night of Tarika Wilson inside a home at 218 E. Third St. Wilson was shot to death by a SWAT team officer during a drug raid. Her 1-year-old son, Sincere, was shot in the hand and shoulder but survived. Allen County Coroner Gary Beasley said Wilson was shot twice in the torso, which caused her death. Chief Greg Garlock spoke before City Council Tuesday night and said the name of the officer who fired the fatal shots may be released as early as today. The name hasn't been released at the request of BCII in order not to compromise the investigation, he said. Garlock said he has contacted the FBI in case there are any federal issues that need to be investigated. The chief also plans to find an outside agency to conduct an internal police investigation and handle officers' discipline, he said. BCII was called in by police officials to conduct an independent investigation because the shooting involved a police officer. Brindisi said she would not release details on the investigation because it is pending. "As far as specifics we can't release anything until it's completed," she said. BCII agents remained at the scene Tuesday and could for several more days. They have maintained control of the crime scene in case they need to re-examine anything, she said. "Our role is to chronicle what happened through evidence," she said. Brindisi said the potential exists for criminal charges against the officer involved. A final decision on that will be up to the prosecutor after all the evidence is gathered, she said. "Often we make recommendations based on the physical evidence we found. Past that point, it's solely up to the prosecutor handling the case," she said. Defiance County Prosecutor Jeffrey Strausbaugh has been appointed as special prosecutor. There remains two investigations attached to the house, she said: the death investigation by BCII agents, and the drug investigation by the Lima Police Department. Police investigators, however, will not be allowed into the house until BCII agents have released the scene, she said. "Right now we have access and that's it," she said. Brindisi said state agents are well aware of the public outcry in the community. "We want to be thorough and we want to be sensitive to the community," she said. She said BCII agents are highly skilled and no strangers to handling homicide and death investigations. BCII agents handled 161 death and homicide investigations last year, she said. In other developments outside law enforcement, a healing worship service for Tarika Wilson has been moved to 6 p.m. Sunday at Philippian Missionary Baptist Church at 190 E. Eighth St. The service is to provide healing for Wilson's family, friends and the community, as well as provide hope for the future of Lima. Council President John Nixon thanked Saul Allen, the city's streets director and a Lima school board member, for suggesting the high school as an alternative location for Monday's meeting. In the space of 20 minutes, Allen made the suggestion and Superintendent Karel Oxley had the building ready. Nixon asked for patience and cool heads from the community. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake