Grunion Gazette editorial continues to parrot police lie about why Douglas Zerby was killed by police.
http://www.gazettes.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-cops-must-be-better-than-guys-they-fight/article...
Despited COURT testimony by officer Shurtleff, who admitted he fired on Zerby by MISTAKE and Officer Ortiz who admitted firing his shotgun in RESPONSE to the discharge of Shurtleff's weapon, the Grunion continues to advertise Police Chief McDonnell's claim the officers fired in self defense. Officers admitted in court they did not respond to a threat of being shot by Zerby. NEITHER officer shot in self defense or in defense of one another as claimed by the Grunion editorial board and the police chief. It was determined in court this was a fabrication of Police Chief McDonnell to protect his officers from prosecution.
Moreover, there is no evidence Zerby actually pointed a hose nozzle at officers. Evidence at trial suggests that also was a police fabrication because Zerby's bullet ridden body was found sitting ON TOP OF THE HOSE NOZZLE after the shooting stopped. This was further worsened when police admitted at trial to modifying the hose nozzle to make it appear more like a gun before photographing it for the media to publish after Zerby's death.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?