A WTOP News article.....
Police officer acquitted in deadly Beltway accident
Police officer acquitted in deadly Beltway accident
October 29, 2008 - 6:13pm
LEONARDTOWN, Md. -- A judge has acquitted a local police officer involved in a deadly seven-car crash on the Beltway in May of 2007, NBC4 reports.
Prince George's County Officer Scott Campbell was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash that killed Kevin McCarter and Sidney Clanton in Forestville.
Fifteen people were also hurt in the crash.
Police say Campbell had positioned himself to stop a speeding motorcycle on the Inner Loop, but the motorcycle rider swerved in front of a another vehicle and sped away. Campbell's car hit the vehicle. That car rolled down an embankment onto the Outer Loop, where five other cars crashed into each other.
"This is a very tragic situation," says Vince Canales, with Prince George's County Fraternal Order of Police. "There were no winners in the tragic situation at all. We feel for the victims of the crash. However, we are happy for Officer Scott Campbell and his family."
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey is expected to appeal St. Mary's County Judge Graydon McKee's decision.
The trial was moved to St. Mary's County because of a defense request for a change of venue.
Campbell was facing 20 years in prison if convicted.
An NBC 4 News article.....
Judge Acquits Officer in Double-Fatal Beltway Crash
LEONARDTOWN, Md. -- A St. Mary's County judge has granted a motion for acquittal in the vehicular manslaughter case against a Prince George's County police officer involved in a double-fatal, seven-vehicle crash on the Beltway in 2007.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said that he is very disappointed by Judge Graydon McKee's decision, but under the law he can not appeal it.
Prince George's County Police Department Officer Scott Campbell was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash that killed Kevin McCarter and Sidney Clanton in Forestville in May 2007. Campbell allegedly was pursuing a motorcycle, reaching 124 mph, when he slammed into an SUV on the Beltway.
"This is a very tragic situation," said Vince Canales in a statement from the Prince George's County Fraternal Order of Police. "There were no winners in the tragic situation at all. We feel for the victims of the crash. However, we are happy for Officer Scott Campbell and his family."
During a motions hearing on Monday, Campbell's attorney, Mike Belski, argued that authorities should have charged the man on the motorcycle, identified as Harold Vaughan, who broke the law and caused the crash.
Prosecutors put the blame squarely with Campbell, a seven-year veteran of the force.
Campbell had a camera mounted in his cruiser but turned it off for six seconds before the fatal crash, then turned it back on after the impact, prosecutors said.
"
The officer intentionally cut off this video," Assistant State's Attorney Michael Pearson said.
Campbell had a "
consciousness of guilt, an attempt to destroy evidence," Pearson said.
The trial was moved to St. Mary's County because of a defense request for a change of venue.
Campbell was facing 20 years in prison if convicted.
Not enough evidence ... ?
First lets say that I hope that motorcyclist becomes intimate with a guardrail - or - that the motorcyclist gets caught by police using a new piece of equipment called a radio. The police could have used "sheep dog" tactics to herd this speeding jerk into custody - nothing like a cop going the speed limit to cause a rolling blockade.
Now having said that here we have an allegedly trained professional choosing to drive in a reckless manner, using excessive speed and causing deaths. It was this cops choice to speed rather than use their radio, this was a very bad decision and should not be accepted from an alleged professional who is supposed to protect the citizens.
Take this further, the Judge threw out the case, not enough evidence, the judge acquitted this reckless professional. Evidence and witnesses are dismissed, is this accountability ? Responsibility ?
Rule of law ?
This is just another bailout that has become common place in this country.
Note also the difference in the MSM, WTOP excluded the actions of the officer to exclude evidence.
Pr. George's Officer Is Acquitted in Fatal Beltway Crash
Manslaughter Trial Of Prince George's Officer Begins
Virginia
