No indictment for deputy who killed Samantha Ramsey
A Boone County grand jury has decided not to indict Deputy Tyler Brockman in the April shooting of Samantha Ramsey, according to a joint statement
No indictment for deputy who killed Samantha Ramsey A Boone County grand jury has decided not to indict Deputy Tyler Brockman in the April shooting of Samantha Ramsey, according to a joint statement Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://cin.ci/1u4uP6L
Carrie Blackmore Smith, csmith@enquirer.com Published 6:04 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2014 | Updated 12:31 p.m. ET Nov. 7, 2014
'While Tyler and his family remain extremely thankful he is alive, his survival came with the heavy burden of doing what he had to do to protect himself and others.'
Samantha Ramsey, 19, was shot by a sheriff's deputy and died as she left a field party.(Photo: Provided/Facebook)
A Boone County grand jury has chosen not to indict Boone Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Brockman in the April shooting of 19-year-old Samantha Ramsey, according to a joint statement issued by the Boone and Grant counties' commonwealth's attorneys.
The grand jury was presented the results of the death investigation by Special Prosecutor James M. Crawford on Thursday.
After seven hours in court, including testimony from multiple witnesses, the group declined to issue any indictments and issued a No True Bill at 5 p.m., according to the statement.
"Throughout the investigation, the public has only heard one side of the story," a statement from Brockman's attorney Wes Williams reads. "As various versions of that night's events became public through news interviews, social media and various online platforms, Deputy Brockman wanted to tell his side of the story. However, in the interest of a full and fair investigation and per our advice, Deputy Brockman remained silent as he was vilified based on speculation and incorrect information."
In late April, 19-year-old Ramsey was attempting to leave a field party along the Ohio River when Deputy Tyler Brockman tried to stop her car to determine whether she was impaired.
According to a statement made by Brockman to his supervisor, the deputy said Ramsey didn't stop and struck him with her Subaru, throwing him onto the hood of her car.
As he hung onto the hood, Brockman said Ramsey stepped on the gas and, fearing for his life, he fired into the windshield.
In the days following her death, at least one of Ramsey's passengers contested the deputy's story, saying Ramsey did not hit the deputy, but that the deputy had jumped onto the hood.
"Today, the Grand Jury of Boone County heard all of the evidence and voted not to charge Deputy Brockman with any criminal wrongdoing," Brockman's statement issued by his attorneys continued. "The Grand Jury got it right."
The joint statement from Crawford and Boone County Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Tally Smith said that the "Boone County Sheriff's Department has conducted the investigation since its inception."
In July, Tally Smith made an official request not to review the case herself because of a conflict of interest, according to office of the Kentucky Attorney General. That task was handed to Crawford, who has represented Carroll, Grant and Owen counties since 1989.
The Boone County Sheriff's Department "received extensive assistance," according to Tally Smith and Crawford's statement, from the Kentucky State Police Collision Analysis & Highway Safety Team, the Northern Regional and Central Forensic Laboratories, Grant County Sheriff's Department and Dr. Bill Smock of the Office of the Police Surgeon for the Louisville Metro Police Department.
"An independent panel of investigators reviewed the entire investigation and met regularly over the course of the last six months," the statement reads.
The panel included Capt. Bill Wilson, of the Campbell County Police Department; Lt. Rich Whitford, of the Fort Thomas Police Department and Detective Corp. Jason Reed, of the Florence Police Department, according to the commonwealth's attorneys statement.
"Deputy Brockman was faced with a life and death situation that demanded a decision no law enforcement officer ever wants to make," Brockman's statement continued. "While Tyler and his family remain extremely thankful he is alive, his survival came with the heavy burden of doing what he had to do to protect himself and others. He sincerely regrets the loss the Ramsey family has suffered.
"Tyler and his family wish to express their gratitude for the support they have received over the last six months. As Tyler will continue to deal with potential civil litigation, he cannot fully share his story at this time, however, that day will come. Until then, Tyler asks for privacy for himself and his family."
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