Florida trooper Detrick McClellan (left) was on-duty when he sped at more than 100 mph without emergency lights down a county road and slammed into a Mitsubishi Galant driven by Michelle Campbell, 51. Campbell died in the crash and her granddaughter, 12, flew through the windshield. Her adult niece was also injured. McClellan was found at fault and given three traffic citations even though he said he was responding to a call about someone throwing rocks off an overpass. He was facing citations for careless driving, speeding, and failure to use his emergency lights. Yet, when McClellan came up for his hearing, the ticketing officer was no where to be found and the judge therefore dismissed the case. A video shows officers and McClellan laughing after the dismissal.
The FHP has said that it cleared the missing trooper who asserted a legitimate reason for missing the hearing. It would not say what that reason was or why there was no effort to guarantee that the hearing was postponed or an alternative officer be present. Prosecutors also refused to bring criminal charges against McClellan.
I can understand the decision not to bring criminal charges but the convenient lack of a witness remains a concern at the hearing. If this officer had a conflict, why did he or she not raise the matter with supervisors and take steps to postpone the hearing? I am also not sure why the court did not see a problem with a police officer being allowed to benefit for the lack of the appearance of a fellow officer in such a case. A postponement would seem an obvious response for the court.
The question now will be whether the family will file a lawsuit against the state and whether the failure to even supply an officer at the traffic hearing could find its way before a jury in a wrongful death case. It would likely be included in a motion in limine to keep it out of the trial and most judges would grant it despite the fact that it would tend to show the lack of concern of the FHP in pursuing such cases against its own officers. Nevertheless, the state should pay dearly for such this accident. It certainly cannot argue that that this was done outside of the scope of employment since it declined criminal charges on the basis that “he took a life while trying to save a life” in responding to the call.
Source: Sun Sentinel
leejcaroll – Obviously you lack the decency to do what David Kaczynski did, turning in his own brother to face the death penalty. I wouldn’t have any qualms about turning in someone who raped or murdered other people.
PSmith, Huh? I never said anything like that.
its called half a century people… and yes sorry to bust your bubbles but at 50 we are considered elderly as 50 is a natural grandmother/father age.. unless like above poster stated if child begin birth process at 15… get over it.. is that what really have you people upset? i will be 45 in 2 weeks.. im more upset that a officer of the law was allowed to murder a civilian and get away with it.. let one of us try not showing up in court to testify and off to jail we go…. either wake up and lay down..
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/femacorpslatinogangs20feb13.shtml
Psmith if cop was someone you knew loved, you wouldnt find it so funny.
Not all police are bad, the bad apples give a stench to the whole when it is not warranted. I, and many, have been helped by police (and I have also had experiences with bad ones so I am no neophyte or pollyanna).
Interesting the Pitorius case, the main detective under investigation for murder. It looks like the thin blue line is well in p;lace there. They interviewed lady about it and she said what we hear here, “Police can;t be trusted”
This is bad for all of us police and civilians, people take law in their own hands and police see no reason to make an effort when they hear comments like I laugh when hear cop is killed.
Watt’s riots in FLA? Just what the ruling Tea Party with Gov Scott would love right now.
BTW, McClelland and his fellow injustice partners don’t give a rat’s a55 what you and others think. See Zimmerman’s case for an example.
Or did you miss it?
Absolutely horrendous! Arseholes like that should not only be charged for murder, but given the death penalty.In other countries police are often treated more severely for their crimes & rightfully so, Here they think they are above the law & so often get away with it. A normal response to this would be a riot, a lynching or both. We are so far away from normal!
Got a pillory handy? You can install it in my square. Warm clothing advised for all. It is winter here.
You remind me of the folks who frequent Facebook or whatever it is called.
;.)
Detrick McClellan is a murderer, pure and simple. As with so many cops who murder, the judge simply looked the other way. In the US there is no justice, that’s for sure. Detrick McClellan’s karma will catch up with him. Spread this murderer’s name around…let him know what it is to be a pariah.