He has not responded to numerous emails requesting updates on the investigation, including a message sent Wednesday. Former Arkansas deputy Michael Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide in the shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. But if we segregate how we react, then were wrong.. When asked what that might include, he said, Not much for the state police. Brittains family retained Ben Crump and Devin Jacob just days after the shooting. Kwami Abdul-Bey, legislative/political action chairman for the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP, said the measure would include a position at the Arkansas attorney generals office that would be responsible for investigating police shootings or brutality cases. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas State Police). The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. On June 23, Hunter's life was cut short when a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy fatally shot him during a traffic stop. On 1 July, the the sheriffs office announced it had fired sergeant Davis for failing to comply with the agencys body camera policy. Former Arkansas deputy Michael Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide in the shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. Davis was fired from the Lonoke County sheriff's office on July 1 after Sheriff John Staley said Davis violated policy by not turning on his camera prior to encountering Brittain. Michael Davis of the Lonoke County sheriff's office are shown in this undated combination of courtesy photos. The only thing that bothered me is that they checked with Graham and they wouldnt let us look at the video, Newcomb said. Now that the trial has begun, Brittain's Aunt Mary Robertson is praying that that accountability happens in the coming days. Hunter Brittain (left) and then-Sgt. The former deputy said Brittain wasn't listening and his hands were in the back of the truck and that's when Davis fired at Brittain. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis was also given a $1,000 fine. The report said that a sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office who has been identified as Michael Davis conducted a traffic stop at Arkansas 89 and Tower Road when the decedent [Brittain] got out of the vehicle and got something out of the back before moving toward the sergeant, after which the sergeant fired his weapon. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. Because of the great public interest in this case, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has made the video available, but with two alterations: The view of the victims body has been blurred by our staff out of sensitivity, and the video, which is nearly 19 minutes long, has been shortened to about 15 1/2 minutes to eliminate portions that had no audio or meaningful video. Robert Newcomb, Davis' defense attorney, has said Davis believed that he had turned the camera on and didn't realize it wasn't working until after firing the shot that killed Brittain. Weeks later the investigative file was sent to his office, and the state polices denial regarding the release of body-camera footage related to the shooting cited Grahams opinion on the issue. He took a life.. Mike Davis near a body shop in Cabot. Phillips was passed the investigative file by the coordinating office July 15, according to an email from McMahan. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. According to his family members, he went to place a large blue plastic bottle. Davis told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit. Wendy Lindsey, Hunters cousin, said in an interview shortly after the announcement on Friday that she was happy at least something was done. But she added that she didnt think the manslaughter charge for Davis was enough. This is the ideal, Marque Heydari said. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. Details about when the camera was activated and what footage was captured arent publicly known because Freedom of Information Act requests for the footage have been denied. Pierson pled guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. The last witness called in by prosecution was Davis' former boss, Sheriff John Staley, who told the jury that Davis had issues with turning on his body camera in the past. Mike Davis plead not guilty to felony manslaughter in the death of Hunter Brittain. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment. A jury found former Lonoke County Sgt. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. In shooting case, office failed to quickly cut police contact, Family and friends of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, including his uncle, Harley Brittain (left), hold a rally outside the Lonoke County sheriff's office in Lonoke in this June 23, 2021, file photo. On June 24, Graham sent an email to state police special agent Robert Middleton saying, Per our phone conversation, we will not be releasing the body camera video of the recent Officer Involved Shooting in Lonoke County at this time. A special prosecutor announced the felony charge against Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office, in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. (AP) The Rev. Davis retained Arkansas attorney Robert Newcomb after being fired for what Sheriff John Staley described as a policy violation for failure to turn on his body camera in a timely manner. They have also pushed for state laws that would require officers to have their body cameras on their entire shift. Sharpton eulogized 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was shot and killed by a white Lonoke County sheriffs deputy, Sgt. The teen was having trouble shifting the truck into park, according to a friend in the car at the time, so Mr Brittain jumped out of the car to retrieve a jug in the trucks bed he used as a backstop for the ageing vehicle. Its about right and wrong.. Once it happened to my sons best friend, I said it could happen to my son so it was too close to home to not do anything about it., Dozens of people gathered outside the sheriffs office after the memorial service for a rally with Brittains family, attorneys and the NAACP. My chief deputy hand carried it up to Bob McMahan. On July 14, two weeks after Graham first announced his recusal, the Arkansas State Police denied the Arkansas Democrat-Gazettes Freedom of Information Act request for body-camera footage, saying the video is part of an active investigation. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Are people going to have to fear for their lives again? she told reporters. While everyone in the makeshift courtroom in Cabot was quiet when they heard the decision, they said a lot to once they exited the doors. People protesting the killing of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain doing burnouts in the parking lot of the Lonoke County sheriff's office. After the verdict was announced, Brittains family and friends chanted Justice for Hunter outside the national guard facility used for the trial. Jury deliberations lasted less than three hours. Family members have said Brittain had been working on his trucks transmission and had been test driving it when he was pulled over. The trial for a former Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy accused of killing an unarmed teenager during a traffic stop happened this week. Newcomb has said Brittain was pulled over by Davis because his vehicle was smoking heavily and an engine was knocking. Davis claimed in that interview that he shouted at Brittain to "show me our hands." Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The killing in the predominantly white community has drawn the attention of national civil rights activists such as Sharpton, who said concerns about police tactics arent just limited to the Black community. Now whats going to happen? They always seem to have their body cameras off. Graham said hes sent the file to the state prosecutor coordinator since hes requested a special prosecutor to handle the case. He also shared what made him fear for his life, which consequently made him fire his gun. The jury learned the character of Davis about how he is a volunteer firefighter, a father, and has a child on the way. [DOCUMENT: Coroners report for Noah Hunter Brittain arkansasonline.com/coronerbrittain]. Few details about the shooting have been officially released over the past two months. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. "We were a bit surprised about this sentencing, and that they were out in about 20 minutes and came back with a maximum sentence," he said. My nephew, Hunter, is laying in a grave or refrigeration and this man is going to get to go home," he said. The family's attorney, Devon Jacob said they aren't going to focus on the charges, but rather look at the meaning behind the jury's decision. There's no way around it and nobody's gonna change my mind about it," he said. Jordan King, a friend of Brittains in the truck at the time, said he didnt hear any commands to stop. But King said Davis never gave any commands to Brittain before he shot him. The law states that records, files and information kept, obtained or retained by the lab are privileged and confidential and that only a defendant, attorney of defendant or prosecuting attorney can be granted access to records pertaining to a defendants criminal case.. If there is a conflict of interest that exists and you are aware of that conflict of interest and you participate then it certainly would appear to the public that there is a hint of impropriety, Crump said. Ive had him for the last five years of his life, his grandmother Rebecca Payne said after the killing. During the early morning hours of June 23, Davis spotted Brittain driving a vehicle that was smoking heavily and an engine that was knocking, Newcomb said Wednesday. The report from the Pulaski County coroner said the initial 911 call came in at 3:08 a.m. on June 23 and Brittain was pronounced dead around 3:58 a.m. by an attending physician at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. Devon Jacob, Brittains familys attorney, described the report as unclear. After a few minutes, he can be heard crying. Arkansas State Police investigated Davis use of deadly force and turned over its findings to Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips, who was named special prosecutor for the case July 12. Brttain went to the bed to get something(transmission fluid / anti-freeze) for the truck. the officer fired 1 shot killing the teen. In an interview with Davis, he said he initiated the traffic stop of Brittain's white GMC truck and heard "the truck's engine rev up and then began to travel southbound in the northbound lane." Davis was originally charged with manslaughter, in a a case that was difficult for everyone involved. I never touched it, Graham said when asked about the file. But it turned out to just be a jug of antifreeze. Once he gets back? Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. One bullet can go through and cause injury in more than one location, Newcomb said. The coroners report does not specify how many times Brittain was shot but does list the immediate cause/manner of death as gunshot wound of neck and arm. The firearm was listed as a police-issued, semi-automatic pistol. And also justice for all of our other brothers and sisters dying at the hands of law enforcement hired to protect and serve us around this country.. The Brittain family is being represented by Ben Crump, the same civil rights lawyer who represented George Floyd, a Black man murdered by a former Minneapolis police officer last summer. The vehicle was smoking and making loud noises, Davis and King have said. Davis was originally charged with felony manslaughter Sept. 17. The only ones are at the very top and that's so the jury will not be able to hear anything going on outside. Shortly after the shooting, Davis was fired by the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office for breaking their body-camera policy. Davis was sentenced to 1-year in jail plus a $1,000 fine. This is something, Jesse Brittain, the boys uncle, told CBS News. The car, which had transmission issues, began smoking and was pulled over by Davis as it neared the repair shop. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. On Nov. 15, former Lonoke County Sgt. Following Davis' sentence, his former boss, Sheriff Staley shared how tragic he thought the entire incident was and that he respects the jury's decision. King was in the car with Brittain in the early morning hours of June 23, 2021. On Friday, the Arkansas State Police released the law enforcement video of the aftermath of the June 23, 2021, shooting death of Hunter Brittain in Lonoke County. The charge was brought by special prosecutor Jeff Phillips of the 5th Judicial District after Lonoke County prosecutor Chuck Graham recused himself from the case. Davis mentioned Brittain's 'loud' and 'smoking' truck, along with their interaction happening 3 a.m. He said Davis gave verbal commands directing Brittain stay in the vehicle. "[It's] going to cost him $15,000 to go home and be with his family, while we're at a loss. On June 23, 2021, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was test driving his truck after making repairs early in the morning when he was pulled over by former Lonoke County Sgt. Davis, Newcomb said. Crump, in a statement, said the charges were the first step in the pursuit of justice for Brittain, adding that his shooting was the latest example of law enforcement shooting first and asking questions later.. We definitely have been trying to come up with a way, when a citizen dies by law enforcement, for there to be an additional route to investigate that, that doesnt involve any of the agencies that work with the officers, Abdul-Bey said. Example video title will go here for this video. Staley noted this was a department policy violation and used that as justification for Davis being fired. Brittain was shot by a Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy during a traffic stop on June 23. A former Arkansas deputy was convicted on Friday of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail for shooting an unarmed teenager whose death last year drew the attention of national. There is no body camera footage of the incident, though the officer had a camera in his possession. I do all the on-call stuff, Graham said in a phone conversation last week. Brittain turned into a nearby parking lot and jumped out of the backward moving vehicle and reached into the back of the truck, he said. He's still driving on his way to the scene. Davis said he could not see the 17-year-old's hands before shooting. No matter which side you looked at, it was a difficult week for everyone. Scott Hundley said this is the beginning of what's going to be a long week for those close to Brittain. 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