From: dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX (The dc-cycles list administrator) To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX Subject: dc-cycles digest for 10/30/08 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ __ /-----\ __ 'dc-cycles' is an unmoderated email discussion list (__\/ _____ \/__) about motorcycling in the Washington D.C. area. =( \___/ )= \ ___ / An archive of the dc-cycles list is available at: | / _ \ | http://www.dc-cycles.org/ \ || || / \|| ||/ Subscribe/unsubscribe requests should be sent to: \| |/ dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX |_| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:25:23 -0400 From: "Carl Custer" To: sabmag@XXXXXX, DCCycles Subject: [dc-cycles] Maryland HSP final chapter? Pr. George's Officer Cleared In Fatal Chase on Beltway By Matt Zapotosky Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, October 30, 2008; A01 A judge yesterday acquitted a Prince George's County police officer who was charged with manslaughter in a fatal eight-car pileup last year on the Capital Beltway, ruling that the case against him was so inadequate that jurors could not deliberate on it. In a ruling that cannot be appealed, Prince George's Circuit Judge Graydon S. McKee III granted a defense motion for an acquittal at the close of the prosecution's case. Such motions are often made but rarely granted. McKee said prosecutors did not prove that Officer Scott Campbell, who drove more than 120 mph as he pursued a motorcyclist on the Beltway, acted differently than any other police officer would have in the same situation. Campbell struck another vehicle during the chase, setting off a series of collisions that killed two and injured 15. "Under the law, I didn't think I could let you make the decision," McKee told jurors. Film, details, etc at: Pillion's confession from yesterday: Passenger Took Month To Admit Role in Chase By Matt Zapotosky Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, October 29, 2008; B05 Like thousands of others, Tiffany Stewart watched the TV news reports in May of last year about a fatal eight-car pileup on the Capital Beltway that was triggered by a Prince George's County police officer's pursuit of a motorcyclist. It wasn't until about a month later that she approached police with a confession: her boyfriend, Harold Vaughn, was driving the motorcycle, and she was on the back. "Harold and I talked about it, and he said to not tell anybody that we were together," Stewart, 24, told jurors yesterday at the police officer's trial in St. Mary's County Circuit Court. "So I didn't say anything." The officer, Scott Campbell, now on administrative leave, is charged with vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of Kevin McCarter, 49, of Fort Washington, and Sidney Clanton, 50, of Buffalo. The trial was moved from Prince George's at the request of the defense in part because of concern that publicity surrounding the case had tainted potential jurors. Vaughn has not been charged in connection with the pursuit. A spokesman for Glenn F. Ivey, the state's attorney for Prince George's, declined to comment on why Vaughn has not been charged. McCarter and Clanton were killed when Campbell's cruiser plowed into the back of their SUV, sending it into oncoming traffic and triggering the pileup across lanes in both directions just north of the Pennsylvania Avenue exit. Fifteen others were injured. More at: Carl (Disgusted) in Bethesda _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) From: "Dave Yates" To: "DCCycles" X-Forwarded-For: [(null)] Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:40:08 +0000 Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Maryland HSP final chapter? The Brrrthesda list Carl Commented: Pr. George's Officer Cleared In Fatal Chase on Beltway By Matt Zapotosky Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, October 30, 2008; A01 A judge yesterday acquitted a Prince George's County police officer who was charged with manslaughter in a fatal eight-car pileup last year on the Capital Beltway, ruling that the case against him was so inadequate that jurors could not deliberate on it. [Dave] Not unexpected. There is practically no way in MD to impeach a sitting judge as well. In a ruling that cannot be appealed, Prince George's Circuit Judge Graydon S. McKee III granted a defense motion for an acquittal at the close of the prosecution's case. Such motions are often made but rarely granted. McKee said prosecutors did not prove that Officer Scott Campbell, who drove more than 120 mph as he pursued a motorcyclist on the Beltway, acted differently than any other police officer would have in the same situation. [Dave] Really? Aren't we beaten over the head with what "nice people" police officers are despite the "life threatening" work ( really it's not even in the top 20 professions last I heard ) who don't lie, cheat or steal... So other officers would shut the video off to avoid incrimination, disobey orders from dispatch as well as department general orders and engage in a foolhardy, non-felony but high risk pursuit? W/O lights & siren? And that's not grossly negligent? Ivey should at least charge him with reckless driving to get this yahoo another job. Pillion's confession from yesterday: Passenger Took Month To Admit Role in Chase ... Vaughn has not been charged in connection with the pursuit. A spokesman for Glenn F. Ivey, the state's attorney for Prince George's, declined to comment on why Vaughn has not been charged. [Dave] And what, exactly, pray tell would the passenger be charged with? Innocent victimery, a class 2 misdemeanor? _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles