title:  Judge Rules Man Who Called 911 On John Crawford Can Be Charged (VIDEO)
text: An Ohio judge ruled that Ronald Ritchie, the man whose 911 call led to the officer-involved shooting of a Black man in an Ohio Walmart store in 2014, can be charged with making a false alarm.In August 2014, 22-year-old John Crawford was shot at least ten times by police, as he shopped for an air gun inside a Beavercreek, Ohio Walmart.Police arrived at the store in response to calls placed by Ronald Ritchie and his wife.During his 911 call, Ritchie claimed that John Crawford had a gun and that he was using it to threaten people.Video evidence showed that John Crawford had picked up the air gun in another part of the store, likely to purchase it.While Ritchie told the 911 operator that John Crawford was pointing the gun at customers, and at one point stated he was aiming it at children, after reviewing the video the judge determined Ritchie s statements were not true.As the AP reports here, the judge specifically noted in her statement: at the time that Ronald Ritchie is relaying to dispatch that Mr. Crawford is pointing the gun at two children, the video does not depict this event. As Addicting reported in August 2014, questions about Ronald and April Ritchie s 911 calls arose almost immediately after the 911 recordings were were released to the public.Ritchie was interviewed immediately following the death of John Crawford. Watch the video from WHIO.Less than 30 days after he told the 911 operator that John Crawford was threatening people inside the store with a gun, he retracted those statements, telling reporters  at no point did he shoulder the rifle and point it at somebody. Contrary to Ritchie s statements, video footage shows that Crawford was using the air gun to prop himself up, leaning on it as he did his shopping. He was talking with his girlfriend on the phone when a group of white officers shouted at him to drop the gun, then immediately opened fire, shooting him multiple times in the back.His last words were  It s not real. The judge ruled that Ritchie cannot be charged with inciting violence, including panic, involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide, all charges that the court was asked to consider.Ritchie can face charges of making a false alarm, however   a crime for which he could serve six months in jail and pay fines of up to $1000. Featured image via video screen capture WHIO