Ellis was unarmed. This website does not provide legal advice. Case in point: Officer Joseph Weekley. Aiyana Stanley-Jones was sleeping in her home on the east side of Detroit on the night of May 16, 2010, when officers barged into the house. Officer Joseph Weekley was charged in connection with Jones' death. The only full justice would be to bring Aiyana back and I can't do that.". 'They knew there were children in there. According to the Greenhouse and Stafford, the officers decided to conduct a traffic stop because Few had an outstanding warrant. However, the Clerk of Court, the District Attorneys Office, Marksville Police Department, and City Court noted that they did not have any warrants against him. Weekley claims his MP5 sub-machine gun fired when Aiyana's grandmother, Mertila Jones, slammed his gun with her hand. We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. Weekley is being retried after a jury failed to reach a verdict last year in . He has been profiled by the A&E show "Detroit SWAT.". Officer Placed At Desk Job DETROIT - The SWAT team member whose gun, authorities say, killed 7-year-old Aiyana Jones Sunday during a raid at her home has been. After prosecutors objected, the judge suspended her decision and ordered a recess until late morning. Information includes the borrower, lender, address or legal description of the property . But Aiyana's great-uncle Fields added that he thought Weekley should apologize and say he made a mistake. On the evening of May 16, 2010, the Detroit Police Departments Special Response Team (SRT) prepared for a surprise raid to arrest a wanted man. It said: No matter the outcome of any jury's decision, I have already been devastated and my life has been ruined irreparably by the events that occurred on May 16, 2010. Kelley joined the station on February 10, 1986, two months after graduating from the University of Florida. When asked by prosecutors if knowing children were in the house would have forced police to change raid tactics, Davis responded: 'Probably not.'. Godbee said Weekley is involved in several charitable events for the DPD, including one that raises money for children of domestic violence victims. She died a short time later. We hope this resolution will provide everyone involved a measure of closure," Garcia said in a statement. neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. Search query They're looking to protect," said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing Wednesday. She said she'd initially been asleep on the couch with Aiyana, but that she was on the floor when Weekley shot his weapon, not close enough to touch the gun. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Police said Weekley came into contact with Aiyana's grandmother, Mertilla Jones, when they busted through the door in the early hours of Sunday morning and his weapon accidentally fired. "The police are not just going in looking to hurt people; that's not the case at all. Sgt. He said Tuesday plans to protest the return of Weekley are in the works but not finalized. After two trials without result, police officer Joseph Weekley will not face another trial for fatally shooting Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a sleeping seven-year-old, during a 2010 raid filmed by a . The jury foreman, a pastor said:This has not been an easy case.. Local 4 News every morning. The trial for Weekley, a white officer, in the death of a black child has caused some to draw parallels to the case of Michael Brown, the unarmed teen fatally shot by Police Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, in August. Police neglected to account for or flatly disregarded the safety of any potential children that might be present. Weekley squeezed his eyes to try and regain his sight, he told the court, and heard a high-pitched moan, like someone "out of breath" coming from beneath the pile of clothes. Sally LaBorde, a passenger in the van Dixon was driving, also testified, saying she could clearly see Few pointing to Jeremy in the car, and the implication was unmistakable that he wanted Dixon to take care of his son, according to the Advocate. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. The tainted relationship appears to be the only possible motive for the stop that night as no definitive explanation has yet to be given as to why Greenhouse was moonlighting, riding alone that night and decided to pull Few over. "The only thing I heard was gunshots. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a. After two. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to . Police staged a so-called safety briefing shortly before the raid; undoubtedly focusing on their own safety rather than the safety of unknown innocents behind the doors they were about to kick in. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Some jurors felt Weekley, should not have allowed his gun to discharge because of his training as a member of the Special Response Team, while others could not determine what happened. Greenhouse also happens to be the son of the assistant district attorney in Marksville. Anyone mentioned by name in any article is welcome to file a response. However, the juryand the judge did not buy it. Police threw a stun grenade through a window, emitting smoke, bright light and vibrations to confuse anyone inside. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). Photo by Thomas Alex Graves. City attorney Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones on Thursday, April 4, 2019 four days before a civil trial was to begin. Wake up to the day's most important news. "Then I started freaking out a little bit.". Final charges against Joseph Weekley, a police officer who shot dead a 7-year-old girl, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, in Detroit in May 2010, were dismissed on Friday, leaving a family bereft and raising serious concern among national groups over an increasingly militarized police force. Judge Hathaway declared a hung jury after less than three days of deliberations. But prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter because they believe he handled his submachine gun recklessly, causing the girls death. Owned and operated by the Hernandez family UglyJudge.com UGLYJUDGE Copyright 2006-2023 All Rights Reserved Notice: "We, are not attorneys. (John T. Greilick/Detroit News via AP, File), FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Dominika Stanley wipes away tears after Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway declares a mistrial after a jury said they cannot reach a verdict in a criminal trial against Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley, accused of shooting her daughter Aiyana Stanley-Jones, at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, in Detroit. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Meet Killer CopOfficer Joseph Weekly Detroit Michigan Police Department, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley faces felony conviction. During the trial, Steve Fishman, Weekley's attorney, told jurors that the officer mistakenly pulled the trigger during a struggle with Mertilla Jones, the girl's grandmother. "I stuck my hands out the window. The story of Aiyana Stanley-Jones' death really starts with Je'Rean Blake, a 17-year-old who was killed less than two days earlier. Weekley told jurors: I just feel devastated and depressed. The fact that a police officer received such a hefty sentence is a win for victims of police misconduct across the country. Loud voices could be heard in the jury room in Wayne County, Michigan a few hours before jurors threw in the towel in the case of Joseph Weekley on Tuesday and were dismissed. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. Fishman attempted to discredit her while requesting dismissal of the manslaughter charge. and
I've got something for you."
Shooting: Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley testifies during his first trial in Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit, Michigan, his second trial was declared a mistrial on Friday Judge. Jones insists she never touched Weekley or his gun, and she testified that he put his gun to her granddaughter's head and pulled the trigger, MLive reports. "I knew it was my gun that went off because I was right there," Weekley said. The Wayne County prosecutor's office said in a statement that on Friday Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge, granting a motion submitted by Weekley's attorney, Steve Fishman. Jury selection starts on Monday in Wayne County court, 15 months after Weekleys first trial ended with jurors unable to agree on a verdict. A 17-question survey given to prospective jurors on Monday included four questions related to the Ferguson shooting, according to The Detroit News. Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door during a chaotic search for a murder suspect at her home. After Aiyana's death, the mayor banned police from working with reality TV crews. According to ABC local afiliate WXYZ, evidence presented in court Thursday showed that neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. He spotted housemate Vincent Ellis standing in a doorway just before a stun grenade exploded, temporarily blinding him. After two mistrials, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office dismissed the remaining misdemeanor charge of careless discharge of a weapon causing death. Copyright 2023 Police found Owens in the upstairs flat and he was arrested. DPD Spokesman John Roach said the Detroit Police Department SWAT team member is 34-year-old officer Joseph Weekley. Under cross-examination Monday, Jones said the officers were negligent. Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones four days before a civil trial was to begin. Weekley's submachine gun fired seconds after a stun. During Weekleys first trial, a fellow officer, Shawn Stallard, testified that he did not see anyone struggle with Weekley. Weekley shot and killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones on the night of May 16, 2010, as officers executed a search warrant on the duplex her family lived in. Fishman said that for involuntary manslaughter to be proved, the prosecution would need to demonstrate that his client acted in a "grossly negligent manner" in the circumstances leading to Stanley-Jones' death. Chauncey Owens, whom police were searching for in the raid, was eventually arrested in a second-floor unit of the duplex where the girl and her family lived. After he was shot, Few lost consciousness and didn't know his son died until he woke up in a hospital six days later the day of Jeremy's funeral. Wayne County Judge Cynthia Hathaway said Weekley's trial will start Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 as planned. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Edward Carmack Email, Phone Number, Company, Colleagues, Competitors, Peers, Interests, Skills, Seniority Associated Press. I understand there is a certain part of the public that is crying foul on this. "There is absolutely no evidence, none, that's in the least bit credible, that Officer Weekley knowingly created a danger or, more importantly, intended to cause injury," Fishman said in court Friday. (Dkt. This is Weekley's . Charges Dismissed Against Joseph Weekley, Cop Who Fatally Shot Sleeping 7-Year-Old Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley was spared a felony conviction on Tuesday over the killing of a 7-year-old girl after a jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared, according to Detroit Free Press. Another question asked whether jurors had seen reports of "the so-called military equipment by police departments here and elsewhere that might influence your decision in this case," drawing a parallel between the law enforcement methods used in Detroit and those employed by Ferguson police officers during the protests that followed Brown's death. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to move on from the tragedy. the group of 12 was almost split down the middle over whether to acquit or convict Weekley on a misdemeanor charge of careless, reckless or negligent use of a firearm causing death. This website is to expose government corruption, law enforcement corruption, political corruption, and judicial corruption. JOSEPH WEEKLEY, INC. JOSEPH WEEKLEY, INC. is a California Stock Corporation - Ca - General filed on August 12, 2003. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. Judge Hathaway told the jurors: 'These things happen., But the little girl's distraught uncle Londell Fields said: 'I don't understand how we can go through this again and have all this evidence brought forth and there not be a verdict either way. Lexipol. Jones had previously said the shot came from outside the house. The jurors, asked that their names not be made public as they explained what happened over four days of deliberations. The only reason Few ran from Greenhouse that night was to catch up with Dixon so he could give her Jeremy in case he was arrested. This button displays the currently selected search type. Jones was convicted of second-degree murder in Je'Rean's death, though he was found not guilty of first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm or using a firearm during a felony. A man rides a bicycle past the house where Aiyana Stanley-Jones was killed in Detroit, Monday, May 17, 2010. Moments earlier, Aiyana was sleeping beneath a "Hanna Montana" blanket on the couch next to her grandmother. Weekley was first through the door, and saw what he thought was an empty room with a man standing in the far doorway, he testified last year. Dominika Stanley, left, the mother of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones, sits next to Aiyana's father Charles Jones in attorney Geoffrey Fieger's office in Southfield, Michigan, Tuesday, May 18, 2010. theguardian.com. As the Free Thought Project reported last week,Officer Derrick Stafford wasfound guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in the horrific fatal shooting of the six-year-old with autism on November 3, 2015. Detroit Officer Joseph Weekley is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Ron Scott, founder of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, has represented Aiyana's family since the shooting. It was about 9:30 AM. In at least one of those other raids, Weekley and his team were accused of using unnecessary force. On May 16, 2010, plaintiff's decedent Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, was inside her Detroit home when she was shot in the head. Mertilla Jones, who. FILE - In this June 18, 2013 file photo, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley stands in Judge Cynthia Hathaway's courtroom at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice during his criminal trial in the 2010 killing of Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a police raid in Detroit. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 18:48 GMT 19 Jun 2013 So why would they come in there like that? Armed with MP5 submachine guns, adrenaline, and an unhealthy fear for officer safety, the raiders shuffled past the toys that littered the front yard and ignored the two distinct street address signs hanging on either side of the shared porch of the multi-unit building; 4056 was on the left, 4054 was on the right. Weekley's fingerprints and DNA were also not found on the gun. Before Weekley's trial, potential jurors were asked questions related to the Ferguson shooting and if they had seen reports that might influence their decision in the case. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Joseph Weekley and is located at 141 Duesenberg Drive Ste 7b, Westlake Village, CA 91362. This was an emotional case, the jury foreman told the media afterward. A Detroit police officer accused of manslaughter in the death of a 7-year-old girl will go on trial this week, as national attention remains focused on the militarization of U.S. law enforcement and police violence perpetrated against people of color. Weekley had not been on the force since 2010 when he shot a sleeping child in the head during a botched raid executed on the wrong home. It was the first time any family member had stood in front of Weekley and directly accused him. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Mertilla Jones testified that Owens lived in the upper unit with her daughter, LaKrystal Sanders. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. The city of Detroit has reached an $8.25 million settlement with the family of Stanley-Jones, who was accidentally killed by Weekley during a 2010 raid. 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