Pubdate: Thu, 24 Dec 2009
Source: Northeast Georgian, The (Cornelia, GA)
Copyright: 2009 The Northeast Georgian
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/TPAOZ85z
Website: http://www.thenortheastgeorgian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3578

EASY TO MAKE A CALL WITH HINDSIGHT

The verdict is in. A Stephens County Grand Jury has  determined that
members of the Mountains Judicial  Circuit Narcotics Criminal
Investigation and  Suppression Team would not face criminal charges in
the  Sept. 1 shooting of Jonathan Ayers. He later died from  his
wounds at Stephens County Hospital.

The shooting came as drug task force members sought to  stop and
question Ayers as he was leaving a convenience  store. Store security
video showed drug enforcement  agents driving into the store's parking
lot and at  least two men exiting the large unmarked vehicle. When
the men next appeared in the video they had their  weapons drawn and
were moving about a car exiting a  parking spot.

The investigation of the shooting was conducted by the  Georgia Bureau
of Investigation.

The Grand Jury special session started Dec. 15 and the  jurors reached
their decision Dec. 17.

Evidence produced included witness testimony and  statements, video
and photographic evidence and lab  reports, as well as information
from the GBI's  investigation. _The jury found deadly force was
justified because Agent Billy Shane Harrison had a  reasonable belief
force was necessary to prevent death  or great bodily harm to himself
or others. _The jury  has spoken. The verdict that no criminal charges
will  be filed against Harrison is final.

There are other judgments that must be made now. Those  include local
law enforcement agencies scrutinizing  their procedure manuals to
ensure such a situation does  not again occur.

It must be remembered that these agents were only  seeking to talk to
Ayers. He was not a suspect and  there was no arrest warrant out for
him. The agents  placed themselves in a situation that was untenable.
Rather than placing themselves in jeopardy, they could  have called
for back-up or taken other measures.

The harsh reality is lawmakers have also made it easier  for people to
carry weapons for self-protection. These  weapons are often concealed.
If someone carrying a  weapon suddenly finds himself facing men with
drawn  weapons jumping from a vehicle, you can imagine the  firefight
that would occur. Is that justified?

The police have a tough job and it's easy to make a  call with 20/20
hindsight.

In this case it is the obligation of law enforcement to  ensure that
proper procedures and training are  developed so as to prevent the
death of another  innocent person. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D