prosecutor`s report - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

Transcription

Timothy J. McGinty
CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR
CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S
REPORT ON THE NOVEMBER 22, 2014
SHOOTING DEATH OF TAMIR RICE
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
The Justice Center • Courts Tower • 1200 Ontario Street • Cleveland, Ohio 44113
(216) 443-7800 • Fax (216) 443-7601
TableofContents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2. FactualSummary ................................................................................................................................. 2 3. Investigation ........................................................................................................................................ 5 a. OfficersontheScene(ChronologicalOrder) ................................................................................ 5 1. PatrolOfficerTimothyLoehmann ............................................................................................. 5 2. PatrolOfficerFrankGarmback ................................................................................................... 6 3. PatrolOfficerWilliamCunningham ........................................................................................... 7 4. DetectiveDanielLentz ................................................................................................................ 8 5. TheFBISpecialAgent ................................................................................................................. 9 6. PatrolOfficerKenZverina ........................................................................................................ 10 7. PatrolOfficerRicardoRoman ................................................................................................... 11 8. PatrolOfficerLouisKitko .......................................................................................................... 11 9. PatrolOfficerChuckJudd .......................................................................................................... 12 10. PatrolOfficerThomasGriffin ............................................................................................... 12 11. SergeantJanellRutherford ................................................................................................... 13 b. Dispatchers .................................................................................................................................... 13 1. BethMandl ................................................................................................................................. 13 2. ConstanceHollinger .................................................................................................................. 13 c. Witnessesonthescene ................................................................................................................. 14 1. Witness#1 ................................................................................................................................. 14 2. Witness#2 ................................................................................................................................. 14 3. Witness#3 ................................................................................................................................. 15 4. Witness#4 ................................................................................................................................. 15 5. Witness#5 ................................................................................................................................. 16 6. Witness#6 ................................................................................................................................. 16 7. Witness#7 ................................................................................................................................. 16 d. Miscellaneouswitnesses ............................................................................................................... 17 1. DetectiveJeffreyFollmer .......................................................................................................... 17 e. SceneDescriptionoftheCudellRecreationCenter .................................................................... 17 f. Timelineofvideo ........................................................................................................................... 18 CAMERA1 .......................................................................................................................................... 19 i
CAMERA2 .......................................................................................................................................... 22 CAMERA3 .......................................................................................................................................... 23 CAMERA4 .......................................................................................................................................... 23 CAMERA5 .......................................................................................................................................... 25 CAMERA6 .......................................................................................................................................... 25 CAMERA7 .......................................................................................................................................... 25 CAMERA8 .......................................................................................................................................... 27 CAMERA9 .......................................................................................................................................... 28 CAMERA10 ........................................................................................................................................ 29 g. OhioStateHighwayPatrolAccidentReconstruction ................................................................. 29 h. BCIReport ...................................................................................................................................... 30 i. Coroner’sReport ........................................................................................................................... 31 j. TraceEvidence .............................................................................................................................. 31 k. Experts ........................................................................................................................................... 31 i. UseofForceExperts .................................................................................................................. 31 ii.OtherExperts ............................................................................................................................... 32 4. StandardofReviewinPoliceUseofDeadlyForceCases. .............................................................. 33 a. RoleoftheProsecutingAttorneyandGrandJury. ...................................................................... 33 b. Legalstandardgoverningtheuseofdeadlyforcebylawenforcementofficers. ..................... 35 i. Policeofficersmaynotbecriminallychargedindeadlyforceincidentsunlesstheir
conductviolatestheFourthAmendment. ....................................................................................... 35 ii. Theprosecutor’sroleinthegrandjury. .................................................................................. 36 iii. UndertheFourthAmendment,thetacticsusedbytheofficerspriortotheuseofdeadly
forcecannotbethebasisforfindingtheuseofdeadlyforceitselfunreasonable. ...................... 37 5. Analysis .............................................................................................................................................. 41 a. OfficersLoehmannandGarmbackweredispatchedtohandleaCode‐1callinvolvingaman
withagunthreateningpeopleatCudellRecreationCenter. ............................................................. 41 b. OfficerGarmback’sdecisiontousetheWest99thStreetapproachtoquicklyconfrontwhat
hehadbeeninformedwasanarmedsuspectneartheRecreationCenterwasreasonable. .......... 41 i. Asuspectpointingagunatpeopleatarecreationcenterposesaseverethreattothe
safetyofofficersandthepublic. ....................................................................................................... 42 ii. TheincidentconformstotheClevelandPoliceDepartmentActiveShooterpolicy. ............ 46 iii. OfficerGarmbackapproachedtheincidentusingaroutecommonlytakenbyFirst
DistrictOfficers. ................................................................................................................................. 49 ii
c. CredibleevidencefirmlycorroboratesOfficersLoehmannandGarmback’sstatementsthat
theysawthesuspectwithagun. .......................................................................................................... 50 i. Forensicvideoanalysisconfirmstheofficers’statements. .................................................... 51 ii. Thepositionofthegunaftertheshootingandtheofficers’defensivereactionconfirms
thattheysawthesuspectpullingoutagun. ................................................................................... 56 iii. OfficersLoehmannandGarmback’ssubsequentstatementsareconsistentwiththe
evidenceinthiscase. ......................................................................................................................... 60 iv. IndependentevidenceshowsthatthroughoutthedayonNovember22,2014,Tamir
waspullingtheguninandoutofhiswaistband. ............................................................................ 61 v. 6. Tamir’sreplicafirearmwasfunctionallyidenticaltoarealfirearm. .................................... 66 Conclusion. ......................................................................................................................................... 69 iii
Thefollowingreportisasynopsisofthefactsandcircumstancessurroundingthe
officerinvolvedshootingdeathofTamirRiceonNovember22,2014.Thisreportis
intendedtoprovidethepublicwith(1)anexplanationofthelegalstandardsusedto
reviewpoliceuseofdeadlyforce(UDF)incidents,and(2)anoverviewofthefactsandthe
processutilizedindeterminingwhethercriminalliabilityispresent.Theinformation
containedinthisreportisgleanedfromtheexhaustiveinvestigationdonebytheCuyahoga
CountySheriff’sDepartment(CCSD),theClevelandPoliceDepartmentInvestigativeReport
(CPD),withinputbytheOhioStateHighwayPatrol(OSP),theOhioBureauofCriminal
Investigation(BCI),aswellasexpertreportsandopinions.
Thepurposeoftheinvestigationwastodeterminewhetherprobablecauseexisted
toshowthatClevelandPoliceOfficersTimothyLoehmannandFrankGarmbackcommitted
criminaloffensesfortheirrespectiverolesincausingthedeathofTamirRiceonNovember
22,2014.
1. Introduction
OnNovember22,2014,at3:30p.m.,TamirRice,age12,wasshotandkilledat
CudellRecreationCenterinCleveland,Ohiobyon‐dutyClevelandDivisionofPolice(CDP)
OfficerTimothyLoehmann.WhenTamirRicewasshot,hehadinhispossessionanair‐soft
replicafirearmthatappearedtobea1911Coltpistol.
AtthetimeofthisincidenttheCCPOwasfinalizingaprotocoltobeusedcounty‐
wideinofficeruse‐of‐forcecaseswhereinanoutsideagencywouldconductthe
investigation.ItwasnotuntilJanuary4,2015thatCCSDwasdesignatedasthe
investigativeagency.OnJanuary15,2015,theCityofClevelandLawDepartmentprovided
theinvestigativefiletotheCCPO,whichdesignatedawalled‐offprosecutortoreviewand
redactanyGarrity1information,andwhothenprovidedtheredactedCPDfiletotheCCSD.
TheCCSDreceivedtheCPDinvestigativefileonFebruary4,2015.
TheCCSDstartedtheinvestigationfromscratchbygatheringallrelevant(non‐
Garrity)evidencefromtheCDPfile.TheCCSDtheninterviewed29witnessesandalso
engagedOSP,aswellasBCI,toutilizetheiradvanceknowledgeinspecificareasofcrime
sceneanalysis.TheOSPsubmittedareportofanaccidentre‐constructionanalysisandBCI
submittedreportsonvideobreakdownand360scananalysisoftheshootingscene.
Further,CCPOengagedthreeuse‐of‐forceexperts,aswellasaforensicvideo
consultant.TheseexpertsprovidedCCPOwithwrittenreportsstatingtheirfindingsand
opinions.AttorneysrepresentingtheRicefamilyinafederalcivillawsuitalsoprovidedthe
prosecutor’sofficewiththreeexpertreports.Theseincludedtwopoliceprocedureexperts
andabiomechanicsandaccidentreconstructionexpert.
1Garritystatementsaregivenbyapublicemployeeduringaninternalinvestigationunderthreatof
theemployee'sterminationfromoffice,arecompelledstatements,andaresubjecttothe
constitutionalprotectionsoftheFifthandFourteenthAmendments.Statev.Jackson,125OhioSt.
3d218,218,2010‐Ohio‐621,927N.E.2d574,576,(Ohio2010),citingGarrityv.NewJersey,385U.S.
493,87S.Ct.616,17L.Ed.2d562
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2. FactualSummary
OnSaturdayNovember22,2014atapproximately10:30a.m.,TamirRice(12years
old)alongwithhissister(14yearsold),hisgoodfriendWitness#2(16yearsold),and
Witness#2cousinwalkedovertotheCudellRecreationCenter.Witness#2livedacrossthe
streetfromTamironWest99thStreet.OvertheyearthattheRicefamilylivedatthat
location,Witness#2becamegoodfriendswithTamir.
TamirwasaregularattheRecreationCenterandheusuallyspentfivedaysaweek
atthere,whichislocatedameretwoblocksfromhishouse.Atthattime,Witness#2had
ownedareplicafirearm,anairsoftpistolthatfiredplasticBBs,thathisWitness#2’sfather
hadpreviouslypurchasedatalocalWal‐Mart.TamirandWitness#2agreedthatdaythat
Witness#2wouldgivethereplicafirearmtoTamirandTamirwouldgiveWitness#2acell
phonethatonlytheWi‐Fiworkedon,sothatWitness#2couldaccesstheinternet.
AccordingtoWitness#2,thatreplicafirearmcamewithanorangetiptosignifyit
wasatoyandnotarealgun.Sometimebeforetheshooting,thereplicafirearm
malfunctionedandWitness#2tookitapart,firedit,butwasunabletoputtheorangetip
backonthegun.Witness#2alsostatedthatbeforeNovember22,2014,Tamirhad
borrowedthereplicafirearmfromWitness#2onseveraloccasionsandevenkeptthegun
overnight.Onthatveryday,Witness#2warnedTamirtobecarefulwiththegunbecause
theorangetipwasmissingandbecausethereplicafirearmlookedlikearealgun.
DuringthemorningofNovember22,2014,TamirmadetheexchangewithWitness
#2andputthereplicafirearminhisbackpack.TheythenwentintotheRecreationCenter.
Ataroundnoon,Tamirandhissisterwenthomebackhomeandthenreturnedtothe
RecreationCenterafter1:00p.m.Witness#2indicatedthathewassupposedtogetthe
gunbackthatday,butneverdid.
VideosurveillancethatafternoonshowsTamirgenerallyplayingaroundwiththe
gunoutsidetheRecreationCenteratvarioustimesduringtheday.Thesurveillancevideo
alsoindicatesthatfriendsofTamiratvarioustimesalsoplayedwiththegunoutsidethe
RecreationCenter.Tamircanbeseenpullingthereplicafirearmfromhisrightsidewaist,
puttingthegunbackintohisrightsidewaist,shootingatcartires,andpointingitat
Witness#2,shootingathissister,pointingouttowardsnobody,showinghisfriendsand
generallyplayingwiththereplicafirearm.
Ataround3:11p.m.,the911callerenteredtheparkareaandsatdownatthefar
benchunderthegazebooutsidetheRecreationCenter.The911Callerwaswaitingfora
bustoarrive.At3:24p.m.,the911Callermadethefollowing911calltoClevelandPolice
DispatcherConstanceHollinger:
911Caller:Hi,howareyou?
Dispatcher:Good.
911Caller:I’msittinghereintheparkbyWestBoulevardbytheWestBoulevard
RapidTransitStation.There’saguywithapistol.It’sprobablyfake,buthe’slike
pointingitateverybody.
Dispatcher:Soyou’reattherapidstation?
911Caller:(coughing)
Dispatcher:AreyouattheRapidStation?
911Caller:No,I’msittingacrossthestreetatthepark.
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Dispatcher:What’sthenameofthepark?Cudell?
911Caller:Cudell;yes.Guykeepspullingitinandoutofhispants.It’sprobably
fake,butyouknowwhat?It’sscaringtheshitoutofme.
Dispatcher:Whatdoeshelooklike?
911Caller:Hehasacamouflagehaton.
Dispatcher:Isheblackorwhite?
911Caller:Hehasagray,graycoatwithblacksleeves;graypantson.
911Caller:I’msorry.
911Caller:He’sblack.
Dispatcher:Yousaidhehadacameljacketandgraypants?
911Caller:Nohehasacamouflagehaton.Youknowwhatthatis?
Dispatcher:Yes.
911Caller:DesertStormandhisjacketisgray,andit’sgotblacksleevesinit.He’s
sittingonaswingrightnow,buthekeepspullingitinandoutofhispants,and
pointingitatpeople.He’sprobablyajuvenile;youknow?
Dispatcher:Youknowtheguy?
911Caller:No,Idonot.
Dispatcher:Doyouwanttoleaveyournameandnumber?
911Caller:Huh?
Dispatcher:Doyouwanttoleaveyournameandnumber?
911Caller:Sure,I’mgettingreadytoleave,butIwanted…
Dispatcher:Sir,whatisyourname?
911Caller:[Callergiveshisname].
Dispatcher:What’sthephonenumber?
911Caller:[Callergiveshisphonenumber];I’mgettingreadytoleave,butyou
knowwhat?He’srightherebythe,youknow;youthcenterorwhatever,andhe
keepspullingitinandoutofhispants.Idon’tknowifit’srealornot.
Dispatcher:Ok;we’llsendacaroutthere;thankyou.
911Caller:Thankyou.
IntheCityofCleveland,thedispatchcenterhasatwo‐stepprocessbeforethe
informationisdispatched.A“calltaker”receivestheinitialcall,vetstheinformationand
thenrelaysitelectronicallytotheactualdispatcher.Onthisdatethecalltakerdidnot
informthedispatcherofalloftheinformation.Specifically,thecalltakerdidnotinformthe
dispatcherthatthe“guy”withthegun“wasprobablyajuvenile”andthatthegun“is
probablyfake.”
Thedispatcher,aftersomedifficultygettingacartorespondbecauseotherunits
werebusy,had“Adam2‐5”(GarmbackandLoehmann)respondtoaCode1(thehighest
prioritycall)toCudellRecreationCenter.OfficersGarmbackandLoehmannwereonly
minutesawayandagreedtotakethecallafterclearingaburglaryalarm.Theverbatim
dispatchisasfollows:
Dispatcher:Hey,wehaveaCode‐1atCudell.Everybodyistieduponpriorities.
Supposedtobeaguysittingontheswingspointingagunatpeople.
***
Adam2‐5:We’lltakeit.Thealarmcheckisokay.
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Dispatcher:Alrightthanks;Charlie20justdisregardthem.Alright,it’satCudellRec
Center;19,10WestBoulevard;1,9,1,0WestBoulevard.[911caller]calling.Hesaid
intheparkbytheYouthCenter,there’sablackmalesittingontheswing.He’s
wearingacamouflagehat,agrayjacketwithblacksleeves.Hekeepspullingagun
outofhispantsandpointingitatpeople.Code1‐8,4,1,8:84,18.
Withthatinformation,OfficersGarmbackandLoehmanndrovetotheRecreationCenter
takingWest99thStreet,whichisadeadendstreet.Theyapproachedbydrivingpastthe
deadandoverthegrass,cominguptotheswingsetareawhereTamirwasreportedsitting.
Tamirwasactuallysittingonthelastbenchunderthegazebowhichislocateddirectlywest
fromtheswingset.
OfficerGarmback,whowasdriving,thenapproachedthegazebo.Sinceithad
recentlysnowed,thegroundwaswetandcoveredwithwetleavesandsnow.Duetothe
conditions,thepolicecarslidabout40feetandstoppedrightinfrontofthegazebo.
Simultaneouslywiththecarsliding,Tamirtookacoupleofstepsnorthwesttowardthe
openfield,andthenapproachedtheslidingpolicecar.
Asthecarcametoaslidingstop,OfficerLoehmannimmediatelyexitedthepatrol
carfromthepassengerdoor,andashedid,Tamirreachedintohisrightsidewaistband.At
thatmoment,OfficerLoehmanndischargedhisfirearmwithintwosecondsofexitingthe
car.OfficerLoehmannfiredtwoshots,oneofwhichhitTamirintheabdomenandcaused
himtofallintheareabetweenthepatrolcarandthegazebo.
Tamir’ssister,whowasoutsidenearthemainentranceontheothersideofthe
RecreationCenter,ranthroughtheRecreationCenterthroughtheNorthDoortoward
whereTamirwaslying.OfficerWilliamCunningham,aCDPofficerworkingoff‐dutyto
providesecurityattheRecreationCenter,alsoranouttothegazeboand,alongwithOfficer
Garmback,restrainedTamir’ssister,whowasinastateofpanic.OfficersCunninghamand
Garmbackhandcuffedherandplacedherinthebackofthepatrolcar.
DetectiveDanielLentzandanFBISpecialAgentwhowereinthatareainvestigating
abankrobberyheardthecallofshotsfiredandproceededtotheRecreationCenterand
arrivedwithinthreeminutes.Dispatchrecordsindicatethattheshotsfiredcallwasmade
at3:31:57pmandisasfollows:
ADAM2‐5:Radio,um,shotsfired!Maledown.Um,blackmale,maybe20[years
old].Blackrevolver‐blackhandgun.SendEMSthisway.Andaroadboss.
Dispatcher:AreyouatCudell?
ADAM2‐5:Yes,ma’am.AtCudell.[Unintelligible]gotagunshotwoundtothe
abdomen.
ADAM2‐1:(anotherpatrolcar)Aretheyokaydownthere?
ADAM2‐5:We’refine.Rookiehurthisankle.
TheSpecialAgentwasalsoanationalregisteredparamedictrainedtotreatgunshot
woundsandhadservedasacombatmedicwiththeMarineCorps.TheSpecialAgent
immediatelybegantotreatTamirandimmediatelyrealizedthatTamir’sbulletwoundwas
verysevereandrequiredsurgery.TheSpecialAgenthadOfficerGarmbackassistinhimin
providingfirst‐aidtoTamiruntiltheFireDepartmentarrivedapproximatelyeightminutes
later.AnambulancearrivedshortlyaftertheFireDepartment,whichthenimmediately
rushedTamirtoMetroHealthHospital.
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DespiteundergoingsurgerytorepairthedamagecausedbyOfficerLoehmann’s
gunshot,TamirRicediedatMetroHealthHospitalseveralhoursaftertheincident.
3. Investigation
Thewitnessesandinformationcontainedinthisreportarefoundintheexhaustive
CCSDinvestigativefileandaredeemedrelevanttothelegalinquiryofcriminalliabilityof
OfficersGarmbackandLoehmann.Acompleterenditionofallwitnessesandfacts
developedthroughouttheinvestigationarecontainedintheCCSDfilethathasbeenmade
availableontheCCPOwebsite.
a. OfficersontheScene(ChronologicalOrder)
1. PatrolOfficerTimothyLoehmann
OfficerLoehmannwashiredbytheCityofClevelandonDecember4,2013.Officer
LoehmannwentthroughtheClevelandPoliceAcademy.Loehmannstartedworkingpatrol
asatraineeofficerinSeptember,2014.Hewasinhis“training”phaseandunderthe
supervisionofhisFieldTrainingOfficer(FTO)Garmbackatthetimeoftheincident.
OfficerLoehmannexercisedhisFifthAmendmentrightstoremainsilent,butdid
submitawrittenstatementtotheCCSD.Itreads:
I,TimothyLoehmann,statethefollowing:
Iwasinthecompanyofmypartner,FrankGarmback,workingCar1Adam
25.ItwasSaturday,November22,2014.OfficerGarmbackwasmytrainingofficerI
wasonprobation.IhadpreviouslyworkedattheFourthDistrict(4th).Iworked
manycases,includinghomicides,aggravatedrobberieswithagun,andassaultswith
weapons.IntheFourthDistrict,Iwasinvolvedinmanyactiveshootercases.I
startedaround2:30p.m.onNovember22,2014.WereceivedacalltoproceedtoSt.
IgnatiusChurchonLorainandWestBoulevard.WhilespeakingtothePriestatSt.
Ignatiusandfinishingthecall,wereceivedabroadcastofa“malewaivingagunand
pointingitatpeople”attheCudellRecreationCenter.ThedescriptionwasofaBlack
Male,camouflagehat,greyjacket,andblacksleevesatorneartheswingset.We
respondedtoaCode1.
OfficerGarmbackwasdrivingandIwasworkingtheradio.Theotherpolice
carsweretiedupandansweringthecalls.Ourcarwastheclosestcar.CarA‐26was
comingfrom150thandLorain,about3to4milesaway.OfficerGarmbacktoldmeto
contactradioandadvisedthatwewould“proceed.”WewentfromSt.Ignatiustothe
CudellRecreationCenter.Weapproachedfrom99thStreet.99thStreetendsatthe
parkandneartheswingset.Thisentrytotheparkavoidsthepylonsandputsus
closertothelocationwherethesuspectisknowntobe.
Whenwearrivedthesuspectwasnotattheswingset.Aswewereevenwith
theswingset,weobservedamalematchingthedescriptiongivenbytheradio
seatedundertheGazebo.Themalewaswearingacamouflagehatandgreyjacket
withblacksleeves.Isawthesuspect,OfficerGarmbackdrovetowardtheGazebo.
Thedrivingconditionswerecoldandwetwithalayerofsnow(likeadusting).I
estimatedweweretravelingabout10MPHbasedontheweatherconditions.Isaw
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thesuspectpickupanobjectandstickitdownintohiswaistbandandhestoodup
andwalkedtowardtheRecreationCenter.Franksaid“watchhimhe’sgoingtorun.”
WefearedhewasgoingtorunintotheRecreationCenter.Asthecarwas
approaching,thesuspectturnedtowardsourcar.OfficerGarmbackattemptstostop
thecarasthemaleturnstowardsthecar.Thecar’santi‐lockbrakesrumbledasthe
carslidtoastop.Ascarisslid,Istartedtoopenthedoorandyelledcontinuously
“showmeyourhands”asloudasIcould.OfficerGarmbackwasalsoyelling“show
meyourhands.”
Ikeptmyeyesonthesuspecttheentiretime.Iwasfixedonhiswaistband
andhandarea.Iwastrainedtokeepmyeyesonhishandsbecause“handsmaykill.”
Themaleappearedtobeover18yearsoldandabout185pounds.
Thesuspectliftedhisshirtreacheddownintohiswaistband.Wecontinued
toyell“showmeyourhands.”Iwasfocusedonthesuspect.Evenwhenhewas
reachingintohiswaistband,Ididn’tfire.Istillwasyellingthecommand“showme
yourhands.”
Itriedtogettothebackofthecar.Wearetaughttogetbehindthecruiser
forcover.Wearetaughtshootandmove.Youdonotwanttobeasittingtarget.The
suspecthadagun,hadbeenthreateningotherswiththeweaponandhadnot
obeyedourcommandtoshowushishands.Hewasfacingus.Thiswasanactive
shootersituation.
IhadverylittletimeasIexitedthevehicle.Wearetrainedtogetoutofthe
cruiserbecause“thecruiserisacoffin.”Iobservedthesuspectpullingthegunoutof
hiswaistbandwithhiselbowcomingup.OfficerGarmbackandIwerestillyelling
“showmeyourhands.”Withhishandspullingthegunoutandhiselbowcomingup,
Iknewitwasagunanditwascomingout.Isawtheweaponinhishandscomingout
ofhiswaistbandandthethreattomypartnerandmyselfwasrealandactive.
Ifired(2)twoshots.Basedon“tap‐tap”,training,Ishottowardsthegunin
hishand.Aftertwoshots,Iwenttotherearofthecruiser.Iplantedmyfootand
twistedmyankle.Aftersuspectwasdown,Ididn’tknowifthethreatwasover.
FrankGarmbackcontinuedtoyell“showmeyourhands.”
2. PatrolOfficerFrankGarmback
OfficerGarmbackisaFirstDistrictPatrolOfficerandhadbeenwiththeDepartment
(atthetimeoftheincident)forsevenandahalfyears.
OfficerGarmbackexercisedhisFifthAmendmentrightstoremainsilent,butdid
submitawrittenstatementtotheCCSD.Itreads:
I,FrankGarmbackstateasfollowsinregardstotheTamirRiceshootingincidentat
CudellRecreationCenteronNovember22,2014.
1.Iwasworking1Adam25ontheafternoonofNovember22,2014withPtl.
Loehmann.Istartedat1430(2:30p.m.)Ptl.Loehmannwasanewofficer,on
probationatthetime.Iwastraininghim.
2.Veryearlyinourshift,werespondedtoanalarmcallatSt.IgnatiusChurchat
10205LorainRoad.Whilefinishingupthatcall,weoverheardaCode1broadcast
reportingamale“waivingagunandpointingitatpeople”atCudellRecreation
Center.ItwasradioedthattherewasablackmaleatCudellwaivingandpointinga
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gun.Themalewasthreateningandscaringpeoplewithahandgun.Hewasonor
neartheswingset.WerespondedtoCode1.
3.ImadethedecisiontoapproachtheparkfromWest99th.West99thdeadendsat
thepark,veryneartheswingset.Fromthere,Iknowwewouldhaveagoodviewof
theswingset,andgoodaccess,ifnecessary,asthatiswherethemalewasreported
tobe.Unliketheparkinglot,thereisnobarriertoautomobiles.
4.Iobservedthatthemalethatwasnotattheswingset.WhenIdidnotseehim
thereIenteredtheparkanddrovebytheswingsettowardthegazebo.Aswe
movedintothepark,Isawthemaleinthegazebo.Hematchedthedescription
givenovertheradio:blackmale,camouflagehat,andagraysweatshirt/jacketwith
blacksleeves.HesawusandstartedwalkingtowardtheRecreationCenterBuilding.
5.Ibelievedatfirstthemalewasgoingtorun.IthinkItoldmypartner“watchhim
he’sgoingtorun.”However,hestoppedandturnedtowardsourcruiser.
6.Iwastravellingat10to12MPHonceinthepark.
7.PartofmyintentionswastokeephimawayfromenteringtheRecreationCenter
Building.
8.ThecruiserdidslideasIappliedthebrakes.Iamnotsurehowfar.Thecardidnot
stopwhereIintended.
9.IfirstsawthegunthatthemalehadagunaboutthetimePtl.Loehmannexited
thecruiser.Themalewaspullingitfromtherightfrontareaofhiswaistband.I
thoughtthegunwasreal.
10.Ibelievethecruiserwindowswereupatthetimeoftheseevents,butIamnot
sure.
11.BothPtl.LoehmannandIdirectedthemaletoshowhishands.
12.Ithoughtthemalewasanadult.Over18yearsold.
13.Isawthegunlooseontheground,afewfeetfromthemaleafterhewasshot.I
moveditfurtherawayfromhim.
3. PatrolOfficerWilliamCunningham
Onthedayoftheincident,OfficerCunninghamhadbeenemployedasaCleveland
PoliceOfficerforoverfourteenyears.OnNovember,22,2014,OfficerCunningham,infull
uniform,wasworkingpart‐timesecurityinsidetheCudellRecreationCenteratthesign‐in
deskduringthetimeoftheshooting.
Thesecuritycamerasarelockedinaseparateroomandwerenotavailablefor
OfficerCunninghamtoviewwhensittingatthesign‐indesk.OfficerCunninghamwas
unawarethatTamirwaspointingthereplicafirearmatvariousindividualsatthe
RecreationCenterthatafternoon.
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Atsomepoint(secondsaftertheshotswerefired)ayouthranuptoOfficer
Cunninghamandtoldhimthatthepolicehadjustshotsomeone.OfficerCunninghamwent
outtoinvestigateandheardTamir’ssisterscreamandruntowardthecrimescene.Atthat
point,OfficerCunninghamranafterherasOfficerGarmbacktriedtostopher.
OfficerCunninghamindicatedthatTamir’ssisterwaskickingandscreaming,and
wouldnotcalmdown.Thus,OfficerCunninghamassistedOfficerGarmbackinplacing
handcuffsonher.OfficerCunninghamfurtherstatedthatTamir’ssisterwasnottackled,
butsincethegroundwasslipperyassherantowardthesceneOfficerGarmbackputouthis
armsandherfeetslippedoutfromunderherandshefell.ItwasOfficerCunningham’sidea
toplaceherinthebackofthecarsinceshewouldnotcalmdown.
OfficerCunninghamindicatedthatOfficerLoehmannappearedupsetand
distressed.Within90secondsoftheshooting,OfficerCunninghamaskedOfficerLoehmann
whathappened.OfficerCunninghamindicatedthatOfficerLoehmannstatedtohimthat,
“hedidn’tgivemeachance…hereachedforthegunandhegavemenochoice.Therewas
nothingIcoulddo.”
OfficerCunninghamfurtherindicatedthatwhenhefirstobservedtheweaponon
theground,hebelieveditwasreal,andthathehelpedsecurethesceneuntilback‐up
arrived.OfficerCunninghamalsoobservedthearrivaloftheFBIAgentwhostartedto
administerfirstaidtoTamirwiththehelpofOfficerGarmback.
4. DetectiveDanielLentz
DetectiveLentz,aMarineCorpsveteran,isan18‐yearveteranoftheCDP(assigned
firstdistrictmajorcrimesdivision)wasinthecompanyofanFederalBureauof
Investigation(FBI)SpecialAgentonthedateinquestioninvestigatinganunrelatedbank
robbery.TheywereintheareaofWest117thStreetwhentheyheardthebroadcastof
shotsfired.Det.Lentzstated:“Wedidn’tknowwhatwewereapproaching.Ijustknow
therewasacallforshotsfired.Ididn’tknowifitwasanactiveshooter.Ididn’tknowifthe
officershadbeenshotoriftheofficersshotsomeoneelse,orjustshotsfiredingeneral.”
Det.LentzandtheFBIAgentproceededtotheCudellRecreationCenterwherethe
FBIAgentimmediatelybeganadministeringfirstaidtoTamirwhowaslyingontheground.
Det.Lentzobservedthescenewithhisattentiondrawntothegunlyingwithin20feetof
Tamir.Initially,Det.Lentzthoughtthegunwasreal,butafternoticingthemagazinewas
separatefromthegun,Det.Lentzsawagreenball,andatthatpoint,realizedthatthe
magazineandammunitionwerenotreal.Referringtohisexperienceandknowledgeof
firearms(includingteachingclassesasaConcealedWeapons(CCW)Instructor)hestated
thathethoughttheweaponlooked1000%real.
Atthatpointamale(lateridentifiedasTamir’solderbrother)arrivedonthescene,
triedtoenterpastthecrimescenetape,andwasdetainedandputinanothersquadcar.
WhenDet.Lentzattemptedtocalmthisindividualdown,hespitinDet.Lentz’sface.Det.
Lentzadditionallyhadseveralinteractionswiththefemaleintheoriginalsquadcar
(Tamir’ssister)butwasabletocalmherdown,andloweredthereardriversidewindow
forher.
Det.Lentz,aftertalkingtoTamir’ssister,hadtroublebelievingthatthatTamirwas
12yearsold.Det.LentzwasundertheimpressionthatTamirwasbetween17or18years
old.
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5. TheFBISpecialAgent
TheFBISpecialAgent(SA)hasbeenwiththeFBIsince2012assignedtothe
ClevelandFieldOfficesincethebeginningofhiscareer.Currently,heisassignedtothe
ViolentCrimeTaskForcewithafocusinBankRobberiesandservesastheDivisionBank
RobberyCoordinator.PriortojoiningtheFBI,theFBIAgentwasaRochesterPoliceOfficer
fromJanuary2010toSeptember2012.Hehasfourandahalf(4½)yearsofserviceinthe
UnitedStatedMarineCorpsasanInfantrymanaswellasReconnaissance.TheFBIAgentis
alsocurrentlyservingintheUnitedStatedAirForceNationalGuard(NewYork)Para‐
Rescue.ThroughhisdutiesintheAirForceheisinvolvedinciviliancombatsearchand
rescueandisaNationalRegisteredParamedic.TheFBIAgentadditionallywasdeployedto
AfghanistanwhileservingintheAirForce.
OnSaturday,November22,2014,theFBIAgentwaswithClevelandPoliceDetective
DanielLentzfollowinguponananunrelatedbankrobberyinvestigation.TheFBIAgent
said:
“Atapproximately3:30pmweheardabroadcastovertheCDPemergencydispatch
forashooting.Weinitiallythoughtthatasubjectwasshotandhewasfleeing,that
quicklychangedwhentheyqualifieditandsaidtheindividualwasshotandthey
wererequestingfireandEMSrespond.Wemadeitthereinthree(3)minutesafter
theshootinghappened…asIapproachedtheofficersIaskedforanyfirstaid
equipment,medicalgear,anybodythathasanyofthattobringitoverhere.They
didn’thaveanyofthatsoIsaidokgivemeapairofrubberglovesandIwalkedover
toTamirRiceandbegantoassesshimanddothemedicaltreatmentIcould.”
TheFBIAgentatfirstdidnotseeTamirmoveashelayonhisback,ontheconcrete,
withhiscoatopenandhisshirtpartiallypulledup,exposinghisabdomen.Ashewas
assessingTamir,theFBIAgenttoldTamirthathewasaparamedicandhewasthereto
help.TamirrespondedwithanodofhisheadandhereachedfortheFBIAgent’shand.The
FBIAgentafterwordrelatedhisimpressionoftheinjury:
“[T]herealityofaninjurylikethatisthatheneededbrightlightsandcoldsurgical
steel,heneedsasurgeontorepairthat…heneedstogotosurgery,that’stheendall
result,that’stheonlythingthatisgoingtorepairthedamage.Theonlythingwe
weredoingonscenewasjusttokeephimalivelongenoughtogettothehospital.
Heneededbloodproductsandheneededsurgery.”
TheFBIAgentalsoindicatedthatTamirtoldhimhisnameandmadeareferenceto
agun,butdoesnotrecallexactlywhathesaid.OfficerGarmbackalsoassistedtheFBIAgent
inadministeringfirstaid,andthatatonepoint,theFBIAgentfeltthreatenedbya
disturbancethatoccurredasTamir’solderbrothercameontothescene.
TheFBIAgentalsostatedthatheheardTamir’ssisterinthebackseatofthesquad
carscreamthatTamirwasonly12yearsold.TheFBIAgentstatedthatthissurprisedhim,
becauseTamir’ssizegavetheAgenttheimpressionofanoldermale.
AftermakingsurethatTamirwasonhiswaytothehospitalwithEMS,theFBIAgent
turnedhisattentiontotheinjuredOfficerLoehmann.HestatedthatOfficerLoehmannwas
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distraughtanddeclinedassistancefromtheFBIAgent.TheFBIAgentspecificallydescribed
hisinteractionwithin10minutesoftheshootingwithOfficerLoehmannthisway:
“heseemedlikeaguythatwasputinaverydifficultsituationandhadtomakea
veryquickdecisionbaseduponwhathebelievedwasanimminentfearofdeathor
seriousphysicalinjurytohimselfandreactedtoit.EitherwayIdon’tbelieveitwas
asituationhewantedtobein.”
OfficerLoehmanntoldtheFBIAgentinwhattheAgentbelievedtobea“spontaneous
utterance…hehadagunandhereachedforitafterhetoldhimtoshowhishands.”TheFBI
Agenttoldhimhewasonlytheretoseeifheneededmedicalattention.
TheFBIAgentfurtherstatedOfficerLoehmannseemedtobeinalotofpain,butthat
LoehmannsaidhewouldwaitfortheEMStoarrivetogetmedicalassistance.TheFBI
AgentfurtherdescribedLoehmann’sdemeanor:“Ithinkitwasaverydifficultsituationfor
himtodealwithandyouknewprobablynowastheadrenalineiswearingoff,Ithinkthe
realizationiskickinginthathejusthadtoshootsomebody.”
TheFBIAgentalsomentionedthathedidnotseetheweaponbutheardtheofficers
talkaboutit.AfterseeingOfficerLoehmann,Det.LentzandtheFBIAgentaskedSergeant
JanellRutherfordiftheycouldassistinanywayandweretoldtomakesuretheywere
enteredintothecrimescenelog.Theythenleftthescene.
6. PatrolOfficerKenZverina
Atthetimeoftheincident,OfficerZverinahadbeenaCDPofficerfor3½yearsand
assignedtotheFirstDistricthisentirecareer.On11/22/14OfficerZverinawaspartnered
withOfficerRomandriving1‐Adam‐26.
Atabout3:30p.m.asPatrolOfficerZverinawithOfficerRomanwereclearinga
domesticdisputewhentheyheardabroadcastofa“manwithagun”atCudellRecreation
Center.WhileinroutetoCudelltheyheard“shotsfiredsendEMS”andsixminuteslater
theyarrivedonsceneandobservedanunknownmale(theFBIAgent)nearthesuspect.
TheFBIAgentaskedOfficerZverinaformedicalequipmentandZverinarespondedthey
didnothaveany.
OfficerZverinaobservedTamirlyingonthepavilionfloorwithhisheadfacingsouth
andhislegsfacingnorth.OfficerZverinadidnothearTamirtalkingbutdidobservehim
breathing.OfficerZverinafurtherstatedthatheobservedafullframe,blacksemi‐
automatichandgunjustnorthofwhereTamirwaslyingonthegrassanddescribedTamir
as18‐20yearsold,6feettall,andabout200pounds.
OfficerZverinadidnothaveanyconversationswithOfficersLoehmannor
GarmbackbutdidhearOfficerLoehmannstatingthathisanklewasinpain.Atthatpoint,
OfficerZverinawastaskedwithsettingupaperimetertoprotectthescenewhenhe
encounteredalargeblackmalewhobreachedthecrimescenetapeandtookupafighting
stance.Withthehelpofotherofficers,OfficerZverinawasabletopeacefullyplacethat
individualintothebackofasquadcarparkednearby.Immediatelyafter,ablackfemale
approachedfromthesamedirectionstatingthatshewasTamir’smother.OfficerZverina
obtainedpermissionfromSergeantRutherfordtohavethemotherrideintheEMSwagon
withherson.
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OfficerZverina’sstatedthatthegunappearedtoberealandthathedidnotlearn
thatitwasareplicauntilsometimeafter.HewasalsounawarethatTamirwasonly12
yearsold.
7. PatrolOfficerRicardoRoman
Atthetimeoftheincident,OfficerRomanhadbeenemployedasaCDPofficerfor
threeyearsandwaspartneredwithOfficerZverinaonthedayinquestion.Afterclearinga
domesticdisputeheheardthedispatchofa“manwithagun”attheCudellRecreation
CenterastheywereinroutetheyheardOfficerGarmback’sdispatchof“shotsfired”andat
thatpointOfficerRomandidnotknowwhowasshot.
OfficerRomanwasdrivingthecar,andat3:34p.m.,theyarrivedattheCudell
RecreationCenterfromWestBoulevard,parkingonthesouthsideofthelotfacingeast.
OfficerRoman’sinitialobservationwasthattherewasablackautomaticgunandmagazine
clipnearwherethesuspectwaslying,whichhebelievedtobereal.OfficerRomanalso
describedthesuspectasablackmale,earlytwentiesandeasilyover200pounds.Officer
Romanstatedthatwhenheobservedthesuspecthewasexperiencingshallowbreathing.
Astheyarrived,OfficerRomanobservedOfficerGarmbackassistingtheFBIAgentin
administeringfirstaidtoTamir.OfficerRomanalsoobservedtheincidentwithTamir’s
brother,aswellasTamir’smotherarrivingonthescene.
OfficerRomanstatedhedidnothaveanyconversationswithOfficersLoehmann
(butbasedonOfficerRoman’sobservationsheappearedtobeveryupset)andGarmback
aboutwhathappened,exceptthathedidbrieflytalktoLoehmannabouthisankleinjury,
andhismaintaskonthescenewastoguardtheperimeter.
8. PatrolOfficerLouisKitko
OfficerKitkohasbeenemployedaCDPofficerfor18yearsandwasassignedtoa
onemancar,onanotherassignment,onthedayinquestionwhenheheardthebroadcast
of“shotsfired”witharequestforEMS.OfficerKitkoarrivedonthesceneat3:36p.m.
Uponarrival,OfficerKitkoobservedthesuspect(Tamir)lyingonthegroundwith
hisheadfacingsouthwithafirearmlayingclosetohisbody.OfficerKitkostatedthatthe
gunappearedrealandthatthemalelookedtobe19or20yearsold.OfficerKitkocalledthe
ClevelandPoliceOfficer’sUnionsincehehadbeenonthreeuseofdeadlyforcescenes
before.
OfficerKitkodidtalktoOfficerLoehmannaboutwhathappenedonsceneandstated
thatOfficerLoehmannwasveryemotionalandupsetabouttheincident,andthattheymay
haveprayedtogetherinthebackoftheambulance.OfficerKitkoatthetimeofthe
interviewcouldonlyrecountthegenericsofOfficerLoehmann’sstatementtohimabout
whathappened.OfficerKitkostatedthatOfficerLoehmanntoldhimatthescenethatthey
were“yellingcommandsatthemale,theystoppedthecarandthemalewentforthe
firearmandtriedtopullitout,”andthatwaswhenOfficerLoehmannshothim.
OfficerKitkorecountedthatheobservedablackmale(Tamir’sbrother)breachthe
crimescenetapeyellingandballinguphisfist.OfficerKitkofurtherobservedthatother
officersplacedhiminasquadcar.OfficerKitkoalsoheardTamir’ssisterinasquadcar
yellingandheobservedSergeantRutherfordcalmdownTamir’smother,subsequently
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gettinghertoridewithEMStothehospital.OfficerKitkoalsoadvisedtheCudellRecreation
CenterStaffthattheywouldneedacopyofthesurveillancevideo.
OfficerKitkowasonlyonscenefor30minutes.
9. PatrolOfficerChuckJudd
OfficerJudd,a15‐yearveteranofCDPwhohasspenthisentirecareerintheFirst
District,statedthatonthedayinquestionhewasonpatrolwithrookieOfficerBrian
Taylor,whowasinthefirststageoftheFieldTraining(FT)program.OfficersJuddand
Taylorheardthebroadcastofanofficerinvolvedshooting.OfficerJuddtraveledwithlights
andsirensontotheCudellRecreationCentergoingdownWest99thStreet,whichdead
ends,andupoverthecurbintothepark.TheroutetakenbyOfficerJuddwastheexact
routetakenbyPatrolmanGarmback.Whenaskedwhyhetookthatroute,OfficerJudd
statedthatitiscommonpracticeamongbyFirstDistrictpatrolofficerstotakethatroute
becausetheofficerwouldhaveagoodviewofeverythingthatisgoingoninthepark,and
becauseitgivestheofficersatacticaladvantageasopposedtocominginthroughthe
parkinglot.
OfficersJuddandTaylorarrivedat3:37p.m.OfficerJudd’sinitialobservationofthe
male(Tamir)layingonthegroundwasthathewasa18or19yearoldblackmale,
weighing200pounds,andthathedidnotlooklikea12yearold.OfficerJuddanalyzedthe
sceneimmediately,instructingOfficerTaylortoassisthiminplacingyellowtapearound
thescene.AccordingtoOfficerJudd,withinminutesafterhisarrival,alargecrowdstarted
togathernearby.
OfficerJuddalsoencounteredTamir’sbrotherbreachingtheyellowtapeandwas
abletotalktohimandputhiminthebackseatofOfficerJudd’ssquadcar.Sometimeafter
that,OfficerJuddassistedSergeantRutherfordingettingTamir’smotherintheEMS
vehicle.
SergeantRutherfordinstructedOfficerJuddtofollowEMStothehospital.Officer
JuddhadOfficerTaylorrideinthebackoftheEMSvehiclewithTamirasOfficerJudd(after
removingTamir’sbrotherfromhissquadcartoanothersquadcar)followedEMStothe
hospital.OfficerJuddwasonthesceneforapproximately15minutes.
10. PatrolOfficerThomasGriffin
OfficerGriffinhasbeenaCDPofficerfor21½yearswiththemajorityofhistimeas
apatrolofficerandsomeexperienceasavicedetective.
OnNovember22,2014,whileonpatrolintheFirstDistrict,OfficerGriffinheardthe
broadcastofshotsfiredatCudellRecreationCenterandthenrespondedtothescene.At
thescene,OfficerLoehmanntoldhimthathethoughtheinjuredhisanklewhenhedoveto
thebackofhiscartakingcover.
SurveillancevideoshowstheweaponjustnorthofTamir’sfeetandOfficerGriffin
puttingabagovertheweapon.OfficerGriffinthenassistedinsettinguptheperimeterand
maintainedthecrimesceneloguntilthescenewascleared.
OfficerGriffinstatedthatwithinaweekhewasabletotalktoOfficerGarmback
aboutwhathappened.OfficerGarmbackstatedtoOfficerGriffin“thattheypulledupsawa
suspectmatchingthedescriptionandthoughthemightrun,astheypulledupthesuspect
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startedtowalktowardthemasheattemptedtostopbutcouldnotandsliduptothe
gazebo.Ashewalkedup[thesuspect]pulleduphisshirtanddrewagunfromhis
waistband.”OfficerGarmbackalsostatedtoOfficerGriffinthatbothheandOfficer
Loehmannwereyellingcommandsastheyslidto“putupyourhands.”
OfficerGriffinalsotalkedtoOfficerLoehmannwithinaweekoftheincident.Officer
Loehmanntoldhimthat“thesuspectpulleduphissweatshirtandthenpulledagunoutof
hiswaistbandandthathesawtheguninthesuspect’shandanditreallylookedbig,aswell
asthathehadnochoice.”OfficerGriffinstatedthatOfficerLoehmannstillseemedlikehe
wasinadazeovertheincident.
11. SergeantJanellRutherford
SergeantRutherfordwasnotinterviewedaspartoftheCCSDinvestigationbecause
oftheparametersimposedunderwhatisknownas“Garrity”law.Factsdeveloped
throughoutthisinvestigationindicatethatSergeantRutherfordwastheonly“roadboss”
onshiftthatafternoonandshearrivedonsceneat3:43p.m.SergeantRutherfordwasthe
seniorofficeronsceneandwouldhavetakenchargeofthesceneatthattime.
b. Dispatchers
1. BethMandl
BethMandlwasthepersonwhodispatchedthecalltoOfficersGarmbackand
LoehmannonNovember22,2014.Ms.MandlhasbeenadispatcherforClevelandsince
December,2010.Accordingtostandardoperatingprocedure,Ms.Mandlwouldhave
dispatchedtheinformationgiventoherelectronicallyafterbeingvettedbythecalltaker.
Onthedayinquestion,Ms.Mandlstatedthatwhenthecallappearedinherqueueof
callstobeassigned,therewerenocarsfreethatshecouldassigntorespond.Shecalledfor
a“roadboss”.Ms.Mandlthendispatchedthecalltotwocar:A26,A25(Garmbackand
Loehmann)thatwereabletoclearfromtheircurrentassignment.
Afterdispatchingtheinitialcall,Ms.MandlmanagedtherequestbyOfficer
GarmbackforEMSaftercheckingtomakesuretheofficerswerenotinjured,aswellas
followuprequestsbyOfficerGarmbackto“stepitup”regardingtheEMS.Onboth
occasions,Ms.MandlinformedOfficerGarmbackthatEMShadbeenadvised.
Initially,Ms.Mandldidnotrealizeitwasapoliceshootingandoncesherealizedan
officerdischargedhisweapon,shenotifiedhersupervisortonotifytheChiefofPolice,
DistrictCommander,UseofDeadlyForceInvestigationTeam(UDFIT),Union
Representative,allcommanders,andtheSafetyDirector.
2. ConstanceHollinger
ConstanceHollingerhasbeenadispatcherforover19years,whichincludesbeinga
“calltaker”anda“dispatcher.”AccordingtoMs.Hollinger,itistheresponsibilityofthecall
takertogetpertinentinformation,includingthereasonforthecall,andsendthevetted
informationelectronicallytothedispatchertohandlethecase.
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Ms.Hollingerdidrememberthisparticularcall,butontheadviceofunionattorneys,
didnottellSheriff’sinvestigatorswhytheinformationofthegunbeing“probablyfake”and
Tamirbeing“probablyajuvenile”wasnotsenttothedispatcher.
c. Witnessesonthescene
1. Witness#1
Witness#1statedthatontheafternoonofNovember22,2014,hewassittingatthe
gazebowaitingforabuswhenheobservedan“olderlooking”blackmalewhowaswalking
fromtheCudellRecreationCenter.Themale(Tamir)walkedonthesidewalkinfrontof
himbutclosertotheparkinglot.
Witness#1statedthatthemalethenstartedtoact“gangster”bypullingagunin
andoutofhiswaistbandandobservedthatspecificmotionatleast6or7times.Witness#1
furtherstatedthatin2012he
hadbeenavictimofapreviousassaultandbecauseoftheactionsbythemale(Tamir)he
becamefrightenedandherefusedtomakeeyecontactwithhim.
Witness#1recalledthatatonepointthemalepulledthegunoutinfrontofa
passerbyandpointedthegundirectlyattheperson’sfaceasshewalkedbyhimonthe
sidewalk.(SurveillancevideocapturesthisinteractionbetweenTamirandWitness#6).
Witness#1furtherstatedthatwhenthemalewalkedbacktowardtherecreation
centerandawayfromhim,hetookouthiscellulartelephonetoplaceacalltoa911
dispatcher.Eitherduring,orjustafterthe911call,Witness#1statedthatthemalewalked
backtowardshim,walkedpasthimonthesidewalkandsatontheswinglocatedinthe
park.Hestatedthatbecausehehadhis“hoodie”upoverhishead,hewastryingtoconceal
thefactthathewasonthetelephonefromthemale.Hestatedthatatonepointhewas
afraidthathemaybeshotinthebackifhehadgottenupandwalkedtowardthebackof
thetransitstation.
Witness#1statedthathekeptpeekingatthemaleontheswings,andwhenhesaw
themalehadhisbacktohim,hegotupfromthebenchandcalmlywalkedtowardthe
transitstation.Hestatedthathegotonthebusandheadeddowntown.Witness#1stated
thathedidnotknowwhathadhappenedafterheplacedthe911calluntileitherlater
duringtheevening’slatelocalnewsorthenextday.
2. Witness#2
Witness#2livedacrossthestreetfromtheRicefamilyandduringtheyearthatthe
Rice’slivedthereWitness#2andTamirbecamegoodfriends.
SometimebeforeNovember22,2014,Witness#2’sfatherhadboughtWitness#2
anairsoftreplica1911coltpistolandsometimelateritmalfunctioned.Witness#2tookit
apart,fixedit,butcouldnotgettheorangetipbackonthegun.PrevioustoNovember22,
2014,Witness#2hadgiventheguntoTamirtoplaywithandTamironseveraloccasions
keptthereplicafirearmathishouseovernight.
14
OnthedayinquestionitwasagreedbetweenWitness#2andTamirthatthey
wouldtradethereplicafirearmforacellphonesothatWitness#2couldreceiveWi‐Fi.
Witness#2,alongwithhiscousin,Tamir,andTamir’ssisterwenttotheCudellRecreation
Center.Witness#2statedthatTamirwouldbeattheCudellRecreationCenterforatleast
fivedaysaweekplayingaroundboththereandattheparknearby.Thatmorning,Witness
#2specificallywarnedTamirthatsomeonecouldmistakethereplicafirearmforarealgun.
AccordingtoWitness#2,thatmorningTamirwasshootingthepelletsatWitness
#2,Witness#2’scousin,andwaspointingthegunathissister.Witness#2alsostatedthat
hewassupposedtogetthegunbackfromTamirthatday,butthetwonevermetup.
Witness#2statedthathetextedTamir,laterintheday,anddidnotgetananswer.
Witness#2wasatMcDonald’sonWest105thStreetwhenheheardthatTamirhadbeen
shot.
3. Witness#3
Witness#3knewTamirfromhangingoutattheCudellRecreationCenterwith
Tamir.Witness#3statedthatTamirandWitness#2wouldalwaysbetogetherandthat
theywere“playbrothers.”
OnNovember22,2014,Witness#3encounteredTamirattheCudellRecreation
Centerwiththereplicafirearmplayingnearthetemporarytrailersthatweresetupbehind
theMarionSeltzerElementarySchool.TheSchoolislocateddirectlynortheastoftheCudell
RecreationCenterbetweentheswingset,gazebo,andtheRecreationCenter.Witness#3
statedthatTamirshowedhimthegunandlethimholdthegunandfireitatthetrailers
beforetakingitback.
Afterthat,Witness#3statedthathedidnotwanttobearoundTamirsince3‐4
monthsearlierhehadaBBguninhispocketwhileinastoreandthepoliceapproached
himandtoldhimputhishandsup.Afterputtinghishandsup,thepolicethentookthegun,
andWitness#3statedthathegotintroublebecauseofthatincident.Witness#3also
indicatedthatTamirkepthisguninsidehiswaistbandwiththebarrelpointingdownward
andthatTamirhadtoliftuphisjackettopullitoutwhenhewaswithhim.
Witness#3decidedtomeetupwithTamirinsidetheCudellRecreationCenterafter
Tamirtookthegunbackfromhim,butheendedupinfrontoftheCudellRecreationCenter
bytheArtsBuildingwhenheheardthegunshots.Witness#3claimsheheardthree
gunshotsandthenheardTamir’ssisterscreaming.Witness#3wenttothegazeboarea
wherehesawTamirlyingonhisbackwithhiskneesbenttowardtheCudellRecreation
Centerentrance.Witness#3watchedEMStakeTamirtothehospitalandWitness#3
statedhewenthomeafterthat.
4. Witness#4
Witness#4isfriendswithWitness#3.Overthelastyear,Witness#4knewTamir
fromhangingoutattheCudellRecreationCenter.OnNovember22,2014,Witness#4in
thecompanyofWitness#3sawTamirshootingthereplicafirearmatthetiresofthe
parkedcar.Witness#4alsoshotthegunattheparkedcar’stiresbutleftTamirtogointo
15
theCudellRecreationCenterbecauseheknewthatWitness#3hadgottenintroublefor
havingafakegun.
Witness#4statedthatbeforeTamirgotshothewouldpulltheguninandoutofhis
pants“likerobbersdo”andhewasinfrontoftheCudellRecreationCenterwithWitness#3
whentheyheardtheshots.Theyrantowardsthegazeboandwitnessedtheplainclothes
officer(FBI)attendtoTamir.TheystayeduntilTamirwastakentothehospital.
5. Witness#5
Witness#5livesnorthwestoftheCudellRecreationCenterandhersonwentto
elementaryschoolwithTamir.Onthatday,hersonwasintheRecreationCenterplaying
basketball.Witness#5statedshesawtwolittleboysplayingoutsidetheCudellRecreation
Centerfromawindowinsideherhome.
About30minutesafterobservingthoseboysoutsidetheCudellRecreationCenter,
Witness#5wasgettingintoafriend’scartogotothestorewhensheheardthreegunshots
andsomeyelling.Specifically,Witness#5describedtwogunshotsbeing“bang,bang”then
hearingsomeoneyelling“freeze…showmeyourhands”andthentherewasathirdand
finalbang.
Witness#5furtherstatedshewitnessedagirlrunningtowardswherethepolicecar
waslocatedscreaming“that’smybrother”andsubsequentlyfightingwithoneofficer.
Anotherofficercamefrombehindthecarandappearedtobehurtsincehewasleaningup
againstthevehicle.Eventually,Witness#5gotinsideherfriend’scar,rolleddownthe
window,andobservedthefiretruckarrivingwhilehearingmoresirensgettingcloserto
thearea.Witness#5alsoobservednumerouskidsrunningfrominsidetheCudell
RecreationCentertotheoutsidewheretheshootingtookplace.
ThelocationofWitness#5whensheobservedtheseeventsisapproximately320
feetfromthegazebowithaneightfoothighchainlinkfenceoverlookingawideopenfield.
6. Witness#6
Witness#6knewTamirfromherinteractionwithhimattheCudellRecreation
CenterandsheencounteredTamironNovember22,2014.Witness#6statedthatTamir
wasontheswingsshowingherthegunandtellingheritwasnotreal.Witness#6also
statedthatshewassurethegunhadanorangetiponit.
However,thevideosurveillancefromCamera1demonstratesthatTamirand
Witness#6actuallymetonthesidewalkinfrontofthegazebo.(Witness#1wassitting
insidethegazeboatthattimeduringtheinteraction).ThevideoshowsTamiropenly
carryingthereplicafirearmthenpointingitatWitness#6asshewalkedaway.
7. Witness#7
Witness#7livesneartheCudellRecreationCenterandworksoutregularlyatthe
gym.HeknewTamirfrombeingaroundtheRecreationCenter.
16
LateinthemorningofNovember22,2014.afterworkingoutatthegym,Witness#7
observedTamirplayingwithagun“insideandoutsidetheRecreationCenter.”Witness#7
stated,“justwavingthegun,pullingitoutlike(herobbinpeople).”Witness#7clearlytold
Tamirto“putthegunup,youcan’tbeplayingwithagunlikethatthisdayandage,”which
Tamirrespondedbylaughingitoff.
LaterthatdayWitness#7wasathomegettingintohiscarthatwasparkedonthe
streetandobservedTamirstandingunderthegazeboandsawtwoofficerspullup.Before
thecarcouldstop,oneoftheofficersgotout,stumbled,andshotTamir.AccordingtoWitness
#7,thepoliceofficerswereinastateofshock,andobservedanunmarkedpolicecarpullup
andamangetoutofthecarandstartapplyingpressuretoTamir’swounds.
Witness#7statedthatwhentheambulanceandparamedicscame,hebelievedatthat
timethatTamirwasdead.HelaterlearnedthatTamirdiedatthehospital.
d. Miscellaneouswitnesses
1. DetectiveJeffreyFollmer
DetectiveJeffreyFollmer,atthetimeoftheincident,hasbeenaCDPofficerfor23
yearsandwasPresidentofthePatrolman’sUnion.
Onthedateinquestion,DetectiveFollmer,inhiscapacityasUnionPresident,was
abletotalktoOfficerLoehmannwhenhearrivedattheFairviewHospital.DetectiveFollmer
statedthatOfficerLoehmanntoldhimthat:
 OnthewaytotheparkOfficerGarmbackwasteachingOfficerLoehmannhowand
whytheywereapproaching(tocontainthesuspect).
 Whentheyenteredtheysawthesuspectonthebenchpickupagunandplaceitinhis
waistband.
 Theythoughthewasgoingtorun.
 Thecardidnotstopwherehewantedittoandthecarkeptsliding.
 Asthecarwasslidingtheyweregivingverbalcommands“toshowyourhands.”
 HetoldDet.Follmerthatheknewthegunwasinhiswaistbandandthathedidnot
wantthesuspect’shandstogotohiswaistband.
 Atthemomenttheywerestoppingthesuspectwentforthegun,startedtopullitout,
andOfficerLoehmannwasinfearthatheorhispartnerweregoingtobeshot.
DetectiveFollmerstatedthatatthehospitalOfficerLoehmann’semotionalstatewas
upanddownandturnedtodisbeliefwhenDetectiveFollmertoldOfficerLoehmanntheage
ofTamir.OfficerLoehmannbelievedTamirtobebetweentheagesof20and25.
OfficerGarmbacktoldDetectiveFollmerthatastheywereapproachingheexpected
thesuspecttorun.Whenthesuspectturnedtowardsthem,OfficerGarmbackstatedhe
slammedonthebrakesandsliduptothesuspect.Healsostatedthathewasindisbelief
whenhelearnedTamir’sage.
e. SceneDescriptionoftheCudellRecreationCenter
17
ThesceneoftheshootingistheCityofClevelandCudellParkwithanaddressof
1910WestBlvd.CudellParkissituatedonthesoutheastcornerofWestBlvd.andDetroit
Road.CudellParkisalsoborderedbyWest98thStreettotheeastandtothesouthby
MarionC.SeltzerElementarySchoolwithanaddressof1468West98thStreet,residences,
andWest99thStreet/West100thStreetandtheCVSlocatedat10022MadisonAvenue.
CudellParkvariesinsizewithanapproximationofthenorthernendof653’eastto
westandaroundthesouthernendtheparkextendsfromWestBlvd.538’easttoSeltzer
ElementarySchool.AlongtheareaofWestBlvd.theparkis716’fromDetroitRoadsouthto
thepropertylinewhileintheareaofWest98thStreettheparkis420’fromDetroitRoadto
thepropertylineattheparkinglotofSeltzerElementarySchool.
CudellRecreationCenteriswithinCudellParkandisabuildingthatis
approximately217’northtosouthand121’easttowest.TheRecreationCenteris
approximately166’eastofWestBlvd.and80’southofDetroitRoad.Theentrancetothe
RecreationCenterisaboutcenteredontheeastsideofthebuilding.Cementwalkwayslead
toandfromtheentrancetoDetroitRoadtothenorth,West98thStreet,basketballcourts
andaparkinglottotheeast,andsouthtowardstheparkinglot.
TheparkparkinglotisadjacenttoWestBlvd.andmeasuresapproximately263’
easttowestand128’northtosouth.Thewalkwayalsoleadstoahexagonshapedgazebo
approximately200’southoftherecreationcenterentrance.
Approximately25’southofthegazeboisaparkplaygroundpadthatalsohasa
swingsetthatwasapproximately50’fromthegazebo.Thewalkwaycontinuespastthe
gazebosouthtoWest99thStreet,southwesttoWestBlvd.,andsoutheasttoareasaround
SeltzerElementarySchool.
TheconfrontationwiththepoliceofficersoccurredatthegazeboinCudellPark.The
gazebowas35’3”eastoftheeasterncurbiftheparkinglot.Thesidewalkis12’3”wide
alongtheeastcurbwith23’ofgrassbetweensidewalkandgazebo.
Thegazeboisbuiltoveracementpadthatislevelwiththesurroundingground.The
roofwasheldupbysixseparatepoleseachatapointwhereeachofthesixroofedgescome
together.Eachofthesixroofedgeswereeachapproximately15’long.Therearenosidesto
thegazebo.
Locatedunderneaththegazebowerethreecementpicnictablesthatwereeach7’1”
longand5’9”wide.Eachofthesepicnictableslengthwisewerepositionednorthtosouth.
Twoofthesepicnictableswereendtowardsend,1’9”apart,ontheeasternsideofthe
gazebowhilethethirdtablewasonthewesternsideapproximately3’5”fromtheother
twopicnictables.
f. Timelineofvideo
TheincidentoccurredattheCudellRecreationCenter,1910WestBoulevard,
Cleveland,OhioonNovember22,2014atapproximately3:30p.m.TheDVDreviewedby
DetectiveDavidJacobswasprovidedtotheCuyahogaCountySheriff’sOfficeviathe
CuyahogaCountyProsecutors’Office(CCPO).TheDVDcontainsapproximatelyfivehours
ofsurveillancevideo.Therecordingtimeforallcamerasis11:00a.m.to4:00p.m.TheDVD
alsocontainstenseparatecameraviews.Thecameraslistedbelowarenumberedone
throughtenandarelocatedonoraboutvariouslocationsattheCudellRecreationCenter.
18
Cameranumbersarelocatedintheupperleftareaofeachview,forexample(Cam1).The
cameraviewsmayoverlapcoveragebutareseparateandfunctionindependently.
 Cam1‐viewofgazebofacingeast,locatedonautilitypole(outside)
 Cam2‐viewofparkinglotfacingwest,locatedonautilitypole(outside)
 Cam3‐vieweastentrance,locatedontheCudellRecreationCenter(outside)
 Cam4‐partialviewgazebo,parkinglotfacingsouth,locatedontheCudellRecreation
Center(outside)
 Cam5‐viewofindoorbasketballcourtfacingsouthwest(inside)
 Cam6‐viewofthesecondfloorindoorhallway,facingwest,locatedinsidetheCudell
RecreationCenter(inside)
 Cam7‐viewofthefrontdesk,facingeast,locatedinsidetheCudellRecreationCenter
(inside)
 Cam8‐viewofthegazebolocatedintherear(west),facingnorth/westlocatedon
CudellRecreationCenter(outside)
 Cam9‐viewoftheparkinglot,facingsouth/west,locatedontheCudellRecreation
Center(outside)
 Cam10–viewoftherearentrance(west)facingwest(outside)
AllofthecameraslistedaboveareoperatedandmaintainedbytheCudell
RecreationCenter.TheDVRrecordingdeviceislocatedintheCudellRecreationCenter
manager’soffice.TheoriginalDVRwasobtainedandenteredintoevidence.TheDVRwas
submittedtotheOhioAttorneyGeneral’sOffice,BureauofCriminalInvestigation(BCI)for
furtherexamination.TheDVRdidnotcontaintheoriginalfootagefromNovember22,
2014.Theharddrivewasoverwritten.Itwasdeterminedthroughfurther
examination/investigationthatthefootageremainsontheharddriveforapproximately
thirty(30)daysbeforeitisoverwritten.
Thefollowingtimeline,whichwascompiledbytheCuyahogaCountySheriff’s
Department,describesthesignificanttimesandeventsindicatedonthesurveillancevideo.
ThecameraviewsdepictTamirRice,Tamir’ssister,andothersidentifiedthroughfurther
investigationandwillbenamedordescribeddependingonknownorunknownidentity,
clothingdescriptioncouldbeusedotherwise.
CAMERA1
11:04:49‐Witness#2,Tamir’ssister,andTamirwalknorthpastthegazebotoward
the Cudell Recreation Center east entrance. Tamir puts something in
Witness#2’sbackpack.AccordingtoWitness#2,Tamirwasreturningthe
“Colttargetpistol,lasersight”hereinreferredtoasthereplicafirearmto
Witness#2.ThethreecontinuewalknorthtowardtheCudellRecreation
Center.
11:05:26‐Tamir,Tamir’ssister,andWitness#2exitviewofcamera1.
19
13:03:52‐Tamirholdingreplicafirearm,Witness#2,andUnknownMale#1walking
onsidewalksouthbound.TamirplacesreplicafirearmtoUnknownMale
#1’shead.
13:06:34‐TamirpointingreplicafirearmatUnknownMaleandWitness#2asthey
exitviewofcamera.
13:06:51‐Tamir’ssisterwalkingsouthboundonsidewalkbyherself.
13:41:24‐Tamir’ssisterwalkingnorthonsidewalkbyherself.
13:41:56‐Tamirwalkingnorthonsidewalkalone,noreplicafirearmvisible,appears
tobeeatingsomething.
13:49:59‐Tamirre‐entersview,walksintogazeboalone.Heappearstohavereplica
firearminhand.Tamircaptured“ducking”downinacrouchpositionnear
garbagecan(thegazebo.)Walkstowardplaygroundarea.
13:55:44‐Tamir(alone)reappearsandisstillinplaygroundarea,walksbehindthe
gazeboinaneastdirection.
13:57:34‐Tamirexitsviewofcamera1.
15:02:54‐TamirwalkstowardthegazebowithUnknownMale#2.
15:03:10‐TamirandUnknownMale#2walkintoplayground,exitsviewofcamera1.
15:05:29‐Tamirhasreplicafirearmout,walkingwithWitness#3,Witness#4,and
UnknownMale#2towardsthegazebo.
15:08:26‐Tamir,UnknownMale#2,Witness#3,andWitness#4leavethegazebo
andwalknorthwesttowardcamera4.
15:11:52‐Witness#1entersthegazebofromthesouthandsitsattheeasternmost
table.
15:12:44‐Tamirre‐enterscamera1viewfromthenorthandwalksonthesidewalk
infrontofthegazebo.
15:13:09‐Tamirremovesreplicafirearmfromrightwaistbandareaandpointsthe
replicafirearmsouth.Tamirisonsidewalk.
15:17:08‐ Tamir still has replica firearm in hand, re‐enters from the south with
Witness #6 who was wearing a green jacket. Witness #6 is walking on
sidewalk northbound. Tamir and Witness #6 appear to have a
conversation.TamirpointsthereplicafirearmatWitness#6asshewalks
away.Witness#6iscapturedonCamera8at14:49:05talking/hugging
withTamir’ssister.
20
15:17:44‐ Tamir still has the replica firearm in hand in frontof the gazebo on the
sidewalk.Tamirpointingthereplicafirearminalldirections.
15:17:50‐Tamirputsthereplicafirearminhisrightwaistband.
15:19:00‐Replicafirearmnotvisible,Tamirinfrontofthegazeboplayingwithsnow
exitsviewofcamera1.
15:20:59‐Tamirexitsviewsouth.
15:25:49‐Witness#1standsupinthegazeboandbeginstowalknorthoutofviewof
camera1.
15:26:39‐ As Witness #1 exits the gazebo north Tamir enters the gazebo from the
south.
15:27:17‐Tamirhasthereplicafirearminhandandispointingitsouth.
15:27:37‐Tamirsitsatthenortheasternmostpicnictableinsidethegazebo.Itshould
benotedtherearethreetablesinsidethegazebo.
15:30:13‐Tamirstandsupandwalksnorthwesttowardstheedgeofthegazebo.
15:30:23‐ CDP marked unit 115A arrives, Tamir reaches in his right waistband.
PatrolmanTimothyLoehmannexitsthepassengerside,drawsandpoints
his firearm in the direction of Tamir. Officer Loehmann retreats
backwardsandstumblesandfallscontinuingtopointhisweaponinthe
directionofTamir.OfficerLoehmanntakescoverattherearofhisvehicle.
15:30:27‐PatrolmanFrankGarmbackexits115Adrivers’side.
15:31:00‐OfficerGarmbackapproachesTamirandappearstokicksomethingwith
hisleftfootinawesterlydirection.
15:31:45‐OfficerGarmbackextendshisarmstowardTamir’ssisterassheentersthe
camerafromthenorth.ThiscausesTamir’ssistertofalldown.
15:31:49‐OfficerGarmbacktakesTamir’ssistertotheground.
15:31:53‐OfficerLoehmannassistswithTamir’ssisterasOfficerGarmbackturnshis
attentiontoTamir.
15:31:59‐PatrolmanWilliamCunninghamenterstheviewfromthenorthandassists
OfficerGarmback.
15:32:53‐Witness#3andWitness#4enterthecameraviewfromthenorthwestand
walkaroundthebacksideofthegazebo.
15:32:53‐OfficerCunninghamwalkstowardTamir(outofview)ontheground.
21
15:33:10‐Tamir’ssisterisbeingplacedintothebackseatofdrivers’sideofunit115A,
Tamir’ssisterpullsawayfromOfficerLoehmann.
15:34:05‐TheFBIAgentandCDPDetectiveDanielLentzarriveonscene.
15:34:19‐TheFBIAgentgetsglovesfromOfficerGarmbackandattendstoTamir.
15:35:17‐CDPOfficersKenZverinaandRicardoRomanarrive.
15:37:01‐ Detective Lentz bends over in the area the magazine from the replica
firearmcametorest,asaonemanCDPunitarrives.
15:38:10‐ClevelandFireDepartment(CFD)arrives.
15:40:56‐CDPOfficerTomGriffinplacesaclearplasticbagoverthereplicafirearm.
15:41:22‐MostoftheOfficersonscenearedrawntothesoutherndirectionorthe
rightsideofthecameraview.
15:42:14‐ Cleveland Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrives on scene, uniform
Officersbegintodeployyellowcrimescenetapeintheimmediatearea.
15:42:31‐CDPSergeantJanellRutherfordhasaconversationwithOfficerLoehmann
whoisnowseatedinthefrontpassengerseatoftheonemanCDPunit.
DetectiveLentzhasconversationwithTamir’ssister,whoisstillseatedin
thebackseatofUnit115A.
15:43:57‐Tamirisleavingthegazeboareaonastretcher.
15:46:06‐TheFBIAgentandDetectiveLentzhaveanotherconversationwithTamir’s
sister(stillinbackseatof115A.)
15:49:12‐TheFBIAgentandDetectiveLentzhaveathirdconversationwithTamir’s
sister(stillinbackseatof115A.)
15:51:32‐SeveralCDPOfficersonscenepointupatCamera1.
15:54:11‐ Detective Lentz has another conversation with Tamir’s sister (still in
backseatof115A)
16:00:00‐Surveillancevideoends.
CAMERA2
12:27:21‐ Tamir’s sister (alone) walks from rear (west entrance) of the building
walksalongsidewalk/sideofbuildingeast.
15:33:58‐theFBIAgentandDetectiveDanielLentzarrive.
22
15:34:56‐ CDP two (2) Officers (CDP Officers Ken Zverina and Ricardo Roman)
markedunitarrivesandparksfacingeastonthesouthsideoftheparking
lot.
15:36:50‐AsecondCDP(CDPOfficerLouKitko)markedunitarrivedlightsactivated.
15:37:19‐ CFD arrives along with a third marked CDP unit (Sergeant Janell
Rutherford.)
15:41:19‐CDPUnit/SergeantJanellRutherford(fourthmarkedunit)arrivesviaWest
Boulevardentranceandparksonnorthsideofparkinglot.EMSarrives
simultaneously.
15:47:12‐CFDandEMSleaveparkinglot.
15:58:46‐theFBIAgentandDetectiveDanielLentzleaveparkinglot.
CAMERA3
Thisparticularcamerawasobstructedwithice.Thecameragraduallythawsthroughoutthe
day.Thereisverylittlediscerniblevideo.At15:31:10onecanseeTamir’ssisterrun
towardthegazebowithOfficerCunninghamfollowing.Thiscameraalsoendsfootage
at16:00:00hrs.
CAMERA4
11:04:50‐Tamir’ssister,Tamir,andWitness#2walktowardtheeastentranceofthe
CudellRecreationCenteronthesidewalkinfrontofthegazebo.
12:27:46‐Tamir’ssister,alone,walksfromthewestendofthebuildingheadingeast.
13:04:38‐Tamir’ssisterentersthecameraview,tieshershoeandexitstheview.
13:05:36‐ Tamir’s sister, Witness #2, Tamir and two Unknown Male’s enter the
cameraviewfromthenorthandwalkalongthesidewalkTamirhasthe
pelletguninhishand.
13:41:23‐ Tamir’s sister walks on the sidewalk toward the east entrance of Cudell
RecreationCenter.
13:41:50‐TamirwalksfromthesouthonsidewalktowardtheeastentranceofCudell
RecreationCenter.
13:50:00‐ Tamir enters camera view from the north, ducks down by garbage can
locatednearthegazebo.
15:02:44‐ Tamir and Unknown Male #2 enter the camera view and walk to the
gazebo.
23
15:05:00‐Tamir,Witness#3,Witness#4andUnknownMale#2areinthegazebo
until15:08:00.
15:09:01‐ Tamir,UnknownMale#2,Witness#3,andWitness#4walktowardthe
west. The four are met by R.P., and Unknown Male #3. Tamir is seen
pointing the replica firearm at R.P. and Unknown Male #3 as he
approaches them. Tamir hands the replica firearm to R.P., who in turn
points the replica firearm in the opposite direction. R.P. then gives the
replicafirearmbacktoTamirandthegroupdisperses.
15:11:31‐Witness#1arrivesinthegazebo.
15:12:36‐Tamirwalksonsidewalkinfrontofthegazeboalone.
15:14:38‐Tamiraloneinplaygroundarea.
15:16:00‐Tamir,replicafirearminhand,hasaconversationwithWitness#6asthey
walkonthesidewalknorthbound.Witness#6continuestowalkasTamir
maintainshispositioninfrontofthegazebo.
15:23:00‐Tamirinplaygroundarea.
15:26:37‐ Witness #1 leaves the gazebo, Tamir enters the gazebo from the
playground.
15:30:02‐ Headlights appear from the south (West 99th Street off of Madison
Avenue),CDPmarkedunit115Adrivingonthegrassandsidewalkwith
CDPOfficersTimothyLoehmannandFrankGarmback.
15:30:21‐CDPmarkedunit115Aparksinfront(west)ofthegazebo.
15:31:45‐Tamir’ssisterisrunningtowardthegazebo.
15:32:28‐ Witness #3 and Witness #4 appear from the west and walk around the
gazebo.
15:34:01‐theFBIAgentandCDPDetectiveDanielLentzarriveandparkfacingnorth
andtheeasternmostportionoftheparkinglot.
15:35:00‐CDPmarkedunit(twomanunit)CDPOfficersZverinaandRomanarrived
andparkedfacingeastonthesouthsideoftheparkinglot.
15:36:54‐CDPmarkedunit(onemanunit)CDPOfficerLouKitkoarrivedandparked
facingeast.
15:37:31‐CFDarrives.
15:37:16‐ CDP marked unit (one man unit) CDP Officer Tom Griffin arrived and
parked directly behind first two man unit belonging to CDP Officers
ZverinaandRoman.
24
15:38:23‐ CDP marked unit arrives from the same direction and path (West 99th
StreetoffMadisonAvenue)that115Ahadentered.ThisCDPmarkedunit
parksbetweentheplaygroundandthegazebo.CDPOfficersChuckJudd
andBrianTaylor.
15:41:32‐EMSarrivesfromtheWestBoulevardentranceandparksonthesouthside
oftheparkinglot.CDPmarkedunit(SergeantRutherford)arrivesfrom
theWestBoulevardentranceandparksonthenorthsideoftheparking
lot.
15:46:16‐CFDandEMSleaveparkinglotusingthenorthexittowardWestBoulevard.
CAMERA5
Thiscameraislocatedinthebasketballgymas previouslyindicated.Thiscamerarecords
intermittent basketball practices with varying age groups throughout the day.
Tamir’s sister is captured briefly walking inside the gym but not for prolonged
periods.Theshootingtookplaceatapproximately15:30:20hrs.Itdoesnotappear
thatpersonsinthegymareawareof,orreactto,theshootingoutside.Thiscamera
endsfootageat16:00hrs.
CAMERA6
As stated earlier this camera is located inside the Cudell Recreation Center on the second
floor.ThisparticularcameradoesnotcaptureTamirorTamir’ssister.Therearetwo
smallchildrenjumpingropeinthehallwayforshortperiod.Therearealsotwo(2)
UnknownMale’sdepictedwalkingpastthecamera.Thiscameraendsfootageat16:00
hrs.
CAMERA7
11:06:00‐Tamir,Tamir’ssister,andWitness#2entertheCudellRecreationCenter.
Theyappeartosignin.
12:19:54‐Tamir’ssisterenterstheviewofthecameraandwalksinthegym.
12:20:22‐Tamirentersthegym.
12:21:00‐Witness#2,Tamir,andTamir’ssisteroncamera.
12:21:53‐Witness#2,Tamir,andTamir’ssisterexitCudellRecreationCenter.
12:29:48‐Tamir’ssisterre‐enterstheCudellRecreationCenter.
12:30:10‐Tamir,Witness#2,andUnknownMale#1re‐entertheCudellRecreation
Center.
12:30:22‐Witness#2isholdingwhatappearstobeawhitecellularphone.
25
12:30:30‐Tamir’ssisteringymwithWitness#2.
12:32:00‐Tamir’ssisternearfrontdeskarea.
13:03:36‐Tamir,Tamir’ssister,andWitness#2andtwounknownjuvenilesleavethe
CudellRecreationCenter.
13:42:14‐Tamir’ssisterenterstheCudellRecreationCenteralone.
13:42:49‐ Tamir re‐enters the Cudell Recreation Center eating something from a
smallbag.
13:44:30‐TamirandTamir’ssisterenterthegym.
13:44:57‐Tamir’ssisterexitsthegym.
13:47:16‐TamirexitstheCudellRecreationCenteralone.
13:59:00‐Tamir’ssisterandTamirmeetinthedoorwayandbothre‐enter.
14:01:01‐Tamir’ssisterinthegym.
14:05:22‐TamirexitstheCudellRecreationCenterwithseveralpeople.
14:07:50‐ Tamir along with four others re‐enter the Cudell Recreation Center east
entrance.
14:12:00‐TamiroutsidetheCudellRecreationCenteralone.
14:14:16‐UnknownpersonleavestotalktoTamiroutsidetheeastentrance.
14:15:02‐Tamir’ssisterleavestheCudellRecreationCenter.
14:15:02‐TamirpullsthereplicafirearmoutsideonTamir’ssisterandasmallchild
enterstheCudellRecreationCentereastentrance.
14:16:40‐Tamir’ssisterre‐enterstheCudellRecreationCentereastentrance.
14:33:07‐Tamir’ssisterinthegym.
14:46:49‐Witness#6enterstheCudellRecreationCentereastentranceanddoesnot
punchacode.
14:48:34‐ Tamir in gym and then leaves the Cudell Recreation Center (east exit)
alone.
14:52:38‐ Tamir’s sister and Tamir meet in the doorway both re‐enter the Cudell
RecreationCentereastentrance.
14:53:02‐Tamirinthegym.
26
15:00:23‐TamirexitstheCudellRecreationCentereastentrance.
15:06:00‐Tamir’ssisterinthegymandlooksouttheeastentrance.
15:08:44‐Tamir’ssisterlooksoutsidetheeastentrancedoors.
15:10:19‐Witness#3andWitness#4entertheCudellRecreationCenter.
15:11:20‐ Unknown Male #2 runs toward the east entrance and enters the Cudell
RecreationCenter.
15:19:53‐Tamir’ssisterlooksouttheeastentrancedoors.
15:20:16‐Tamir’ssisterreturns.
15:21:38‐Tamir’ssisteratfrontdeskcounter.
15:26:33‐MailmanenterstheCudellRecreationCenter.
15:28:50‐MailmanexitstheCudellRecreationCenter.
15:30:49‐Fiveunknownmalejuvenileslookouttheeastdoorsandoneofthemale
juvenilesappearstotellCDPOfficerCunninghamwhatheobserved.
15:31:25‐Tamir’ssisterwalkstowardtheeastexitdoorsandrunstowardthegazebo.
15:31:40‐ CDP Officer Cunningham exits the Cudell Recreation Center and heads
towardthegazebo.
CAMERA8
12:26:05‐Tamir’ssisterleaveswestentranceandwalksalongbuilding.
12:29:15‐UnknownMale#4exitwestexit.
12:29:29‐Tamir’ssisterexitswestentrance.
14:49:05‐Tamir’ssisterandWitness#6hug.
14:50:03‐Tamir’ssisterre‐entersthewestentrance.
15:06:58‐CudellRecreationCenteremployeeJ.O.leavesCudellRecreationCenter
forlunch.
15:08:01‐R.P.andUnknownMale#3(furcoat)appearandwalksouth.
15:22:00‐Witness#3andWitness#4walkwestbound.
27
15:25:20‐Witness#3andWitness#4re‐enterCudellRecreationCenterwest
entrance.
15:29:08‐Witness#3andWitness#4exitwestentrance.
15:30:26‐Tamir’ssisterandUnknownMale#4(yellowjacket)andtwoothermales
runbackinsidetheCudellRecreationCenter.
15:31:52‐Witness#3andWitness#4runsouththeneastalongthebuildingtoward
thegazebo.
CAMERA9
12:27:21‐Tamir’ssisterappearsoncamerabrieflyandthendisappears.
15:07:26‐CudellRecreationCenteremployeeJ.O.leavesCudellRecreationCenterfor
lunch.
15:08:28‐R.P.andUnknownMale#3(furcoat)appearandwalkalongsidewalk.
15:32:14‐Witness#3andWitness#4appearwalkingonthesidewalkandbeginto
runtowardthegazebo.
15:33:58‐theFBIAgentandDetectiveDanielLentzarriveintheparkinglotviathe
WestBoulevardentrance.
15:34:54‐ CDP marked unit arrives, Officers Ken Zverina and Ricardo Roman (no
overheadlights),twomanunit.
15:36:46‐ CDP marked unit arrives, CDP Officer Lou Kitko, 1C21 (overhead lights
activated.)
15:37:18‐CFDarrivesfromtheWestBoulevardentrance.
15:39:10‐ CDP marked unit arrives, CDP Officer Tom Griffin (overhead lights
activated.)
15:41:17‐EMSarrivesatthesametimeCDPmarkedunit(SergeantRutherford.)
15:43:09‐ Officers on scene draw their attention to the south to include several
Officerswalkinthatdirection.
15:47:15‐CFDleavesCudellRecreationCenterproperty.
15:47:27‐EMSleavesproperty.
15:53:47‐CDPmarkedunitarrives,CDPOfficerBobSweaney,1B27.
15:58:48‐theFBIAgentandDetectiveLentzappeartoleaveproperty.
28
CAMERA10
12:27:03‐Tamir’ssisterexitsCudellRecreationCenter(west)andwalkssouthalong
building.
14:49:06‐ Tamir’s sister and Witness #6 (green jacket) appear to have a brief
conversation,Tamir’ssisterandWitness#6hug,Witness#6leaves.
14:50:00‐Tamir’ssisterre‐enterswestentrancealone.
15:22:02‐Witness#3andWitness#4walkoutwestexitandcontinuetowalkwest.
15:24:57‐Witness#3andWitness#4re‐entercameraviewfromthewest.
15:29:10‐Witness#3andWitness#4exitCudellRecreationCenterwestexitwith
UnknownMale#4.
15:30:13‐Tamir’ssisterappearsoncamerabriefly.
15:30:25‐Two(2)UnknownMale’sexitthewestexitandsitatpicnictable.
15:30:25‐Two(2)UnknownMale’srunbackinbuildinginahurryone(1)Unknown
Maleloseshisshoe.
15:31:51‐Witness#3andWitness#4runsouthwesttowardthegazebo.
(Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department Report documenting review of Cudell Recreation Center
SurveillanceCameras,May12,2015).
g. OhioStateHighwayPatrolAccidentReconstruction
The accident reconstruction report of the scene at Cudell Recreation Center was
completed by Sergeant John Thorne of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Sgt. Thorne has a
Master’sDegreeinCriminalJusticeandhasbeenacrashreconstructionsupervisorforthe
OhioStateHighwayPatrolsince2010.Sgt.Thorneisadditionallycertifiedasatrafficcrash
Reconstructionist, and he has a certification in forensic crime/crime scene mapping.
Furthermore,Sgt.Thornehastestifiednumeroustimeasanexpertwitnessincourtsacross
NortheastOhio.
Theaccidentreconstructionreportwasconductedtodeterminethevehicle’sspeed
anddecelerationasitapproachedTamirRiceattheCudellRecreationCenter.Inmakingthis
report,Sgt.Thorneusedmeasurementstakenbyhimself,andLieutenantKinn(OhioState
HighwayPatrol),ofCudellPark,alongwithsurveillancevideooftheincidentonNovember
22, 2014 and photos of the scene at Cudell Park on November 22, 2014. Sgt. Thorne
additionallyreferencesinhisreportmeasurementstakenofthecrimescenebyCDP.
29
Sgt.ThornenotesthatthepatrolcardrivenbyOfficerGarmbackhadanAutomated
VehicleLocator(AVL)whichiscapableofrecordingthevehiclelocationandspeed.However,
Sgt.Thornedidnotrelyonthisdeviceinhisanalysisasitonlyrefresheditsdataevery9‐10
secondsandthespeedshownontheAVLappearedtolagbehindthevehicle’smovement.
Indeterminingthespeedofthevehicle,Sgt.Thorne’sreportemployedaslidetostop
calculation,whichisanequationthatcandeterminethespeedofthevehiclebasedonthe
distance of the deceleration area and the frictional value of the surface vehicle was
deceleratingon.BasedonvideoevidenceandmeasurementtakenatthescenebytheCDP,
and measurements taken, Sgt. Thorne determined that the vehicle slid to a stop at a
minimumof40.3ft.in3.5seconds,oratamaximumof73.3ft.in4.5seconds.
Thefrictionalvalueofthesurfacethevehicledeceleratedonwasdeterminedusinga
formulausingthedistancethecartraveledandthetimeittookthecartotravelthatdistance.
Sgt.Thornenotedinhisreportthatthegroundthevehiclecoveredwasagrassyareathat
wascoveredbywetsnow.Theformulaindicatedafrictionalvalueofthesurfaceconsistent
withthetestingdonebytheOhioStateHighwayPatrolofobjectstravelingoverwetgrass
andadditionallyconsistentwiththetestingdoneofobjectspassingoverwetsnowbythe
InstituteofPoliceTechnologyandManagement.
Theslide‐to‐stopcalculationinSgt.Thorne’sreportwasdeterminedusingboththe
minimumdistancethevehiclemayhaveslidtoastop,40.3ft.,andthemaximumdistance
the vehicle may have slid to a stop, 73.3 ft. The slide‐to‐stop calculation showed that the
vehiclewastravelingataspeedofbetween15and22mphwhenitbeganitsdeceleration
basedontheminimumandmaximumdistancethatthevehiclemayhavetraveled.Usinga
hybrid calculation, which assumes a middle point between the minimum and maximum
distancebaseduponthevideosurveillanceevidence,thevehicledrivenbyOfficerGarmback
was determined to be traveling approximately 19 mph as the vehicle began its final
decelerationinslidingtoastop.
h. BCIReport
BCI was engaged to assist the CCSD to utilize their advanced knowledge of crime
sceneanalyticaltechniquestothiscase.Specifically,BCIdida“360”laserscan,magnifiedthe
videoatthetimeoftheshootingandutilizedacomputerprogramthatdemonstratedaview
frominsidethepolicecar(1‐Adam‐25)asitapproachedthegazebolocatedattheCudell
RecreationCenter.
BCIutilizedwhatisknownasa3‐DscanoftheCudellRecreationCentercreatedfrom
alaserthatcoveredtherelevantareasofthepark.Thescanshowsadigital3‐Dpictureof
the area which contains markers of the evidence gathered on the scene including two
cartridgecases,acellphone,amagazine,andanairsoftgun.Thelocationofthevehicleand
evidentiary items are based on video surveillance taken of the Cudell Park and on the
measurementsoftheCDP.Theimagesdetailstheappropriatemeasurementsofwherethe
replicafirearmwasfoundinrelationtotheconcreteedgeofthegazebo,wherethemagazine
wasfoundrelativetotheconcreteedgeofthegazebo,distancefromtheedgeofthegazebo
to99thStreet,thedistancefromthegazebototheentranceoftheRecreationCenter,andthe
distancefromtheedgeofthegazebotoWest98thStreet.
30
BCIalsomagnifiedCamera#1pertainingtothetimeoftheshootingandcreateda
videooftheviewOfficersGarmbackandLoehmannwouldhavehadastheyapproachedthe
gazebo.
i. Coroner’sReport
Dr.ThomasP.Gilson,ChiefPathologist(Coroner),didtheautopsyofTamirRiceon
November24,2014.Dr.Gilsonfoundthecauseofdeathtobeasinglegunshotwoundthat
toretheinferiorvenacavawhichisaprimaryveinthatcontrols2/3ofbodybloodflowto
thelowerpartofaperson’sbody.Healsofoundthatthedirectionofthebullettraveledfront
toback,lefttoright,anddownward.Thebulletlodgedinthepelvisapproximately26inches
belowthetopoftheheadandoneinchrightofthemidline.
j. TraceEvidence
Curtiss L. Jones is a Forensic Scientist and the Supervisor of the Trace Evidence
DepartmentattheCuyahogaCountyCoroner’sOffice.Mr.Jonesinspectedandcatalogedthe
clothingwornbyTamirRiceonthedayoftheincident.Mr.Jonesalsoperformedatestfiring
usingthesame“Glock”modelusedbyOfficerLoehmannthatdaytodeterminethedistance
fromtheguntothebullethole.Basedupontheconditionofthebullethole,foundonTamir’s
jacket,Mr.Jonesdeterminedthemuzzle‐to‐targetdistancewasfivefeet,meaningthatTamir
wasatleastfivefeetawayfromOfficerLoehmannwhenhedischargedtheweapon.
k. Experts
The State of Ohio engaged three use of force experts – Kimberly Crawford, Lamar
Sims,Esq.,andKenKatsaris–aswellasaForensicVideoExaminer,GrantFredricks.The
attorneys representing the Rice family in a pending § 1983 civil suit against the City of
ClevelandalsoretainedtwouseofforceExperts–JeffreyNobleandRogerClark–aswellas
anaccidentreconstructionistwithaPh.D.inBiomechanicalEngineering,JesseL.Wobroch.
i. UseofForceExperts
a) KimberlyCrawford
Ms.CrawfordisanAssociateProfessoratNorthernVirginiaCommunityCollegewho
wasanex‐FBIAgentthattaughtuseofforceatQuantico,Virginiafor19years.Heropinion
stated:
“AccordingtotheSupremeCourt,thestandardthatmustbeusedtoevaluatealaw
enforcement officer’s use of deadly force is one of objective reasonableness. The
questionisnotwhethereveryofficerwouldhavereactedthesameway.Rather,the
relevantinquiryiswhetherareasonableofficer,confrontingtheexactsamescenario
under identical conditions could have concluded that deadly force was necessary.
Basedontheproceedingdiscussion,andinlightofmytrainingandexperience,itis
31
myconclusionthatOfficerLoehmann’suseofdeadlyforcefallswithintherealmof
reasonablenessunderthedictatesoftheFourthAmendment.“
b) KenKatsaris
Mr.Katsarisisacertifiedlawenforcementofficerandinstructorforover50yearsand
aconsultant.Hisopinionstatedthattheshootingwasobjectivelyreasonablebasedonthe
threattheofficersfacedatthetimetheyencounteredTamirRice.
c) LamarSimsEsq.
Mr.SimsistheSeniorChiefDeputyDistrictAttorneyoftheDenverCountyDistrict
Attorney’sOffice.Mr.SimswasaDistrictAttorneyfor31yearsandteachestheuseofforce
trainingtolocalpolice.Hisopinionstated:
“IagreedtoreviewthecasefileandIhavenowcompletedthatreview.Thefactual
determinationsmadebelowarebasedsolelyonthematerialsyouprovided.Based
uponmyreviewofthosefactsandthelegaldoctrinesdiscussedbelow,Iconcludethat
Officer Loehmann's actions were objectively reasonable as that term is defined by
controllingFederalcaselaw.”
d) JeffreyNoble
Mr.NobleisaretiredDeputyChiefofPolice,withaJurisDoctorDegreeandheisa
lawenforcementconsultant.Hisopinionstatedthatbasedupontheofficers’recklesstactics,
thatcreatedthedangertheuseofforcewasobjectivelyunreasonable.
e) RogerClark
Mr.ClarkisaformerLieutenantoftheLosAngelesCountySheriff’sDepartmentwho
hasbeenapoliceconsultantfor27years.HisopinionstatedthattheshootingofTamirRice
wasinconsistentwithgenerallyacceptedstandardsandthatitwasanunreasonable,and
excessive,useofforce.
ii.OtherExperts
a) Dr.JesseWobrock
Mr. Wobroch is an accident reconstructionist with a Ph.D. in Biomechanical
Engineering.Hisopinionstatedthat,basedonhisobservationsofthevideo,TamirRicehad
hishandsinhispocketsatthetimeoftheshootingandwasnotreachingforhiswaist.
b) GrantFredricks
Mr.FredricksisaformerpoliceofficerwhoisacertifiedForensicVideoExaminer
thatteachesattheFBIAcademyinQuantico,Virginia.Hisopinionstated:
32
“Aftercarefullyexaminingthevideoimagesandothermaterialslistedinthisreport,
IhaveformedtheopinionthatatthetimeoftheshootingTamirRiceliftedhisjacket
withhislefthand,andwithhisrighthand,hereachedforhisgun.”
ThecompleteopinionsofalloftheaboveexpertscanbefoundontheCCPOwebsite.
4. StandardofReviewinPoliceUseofDeadlyForceCases.
a. RoleoftheProsecutingAttorneyandGrandJury.
Inpoliceuseofdeadlyforcecases,theprosecutorisrequiredtoinvestigatewhether
an officer’s actions violated the law. Ohio law gives the county prosecuting attorney the
authorityto“inquireintothecommissionofcrimeswithinthecounty”andto“prosecute,on
behalfofthestate,allcomplaints,suitsandcontroversiesinwhichthestateisaparty[.]”R.C.
309.08(A).“[T]hedecisionwhetherornottoprosecute,andwhatchargetofileorbring
beforeagrandjury,generallyrestsentirelyinhisdiscretion.”Bordenkircherv.Hayes,434
U.S.357,364,54L.Ed.2d604,98S.Ct.663(1978);Stateexrel.Masterv.Cleveland,75Ohio
St.3d23,661N.E.2d180(1996).
A prosecutor cannot initiate a felony case in Ohio without a grand jury. Ohio’s
Constitutionprovidesthatnocitizenmaybeprosecutedforafelonywithout“presentment
orindictmentofagrandjury.”OhioConstitution,ArticleI,Section10.Tothatend,Ohiolaw
states that a county grand jury shall “proceed to inquire of and present all offenses
committedwithinthecounty.”R.C.2939.08.Toassistthegrandjury,“[t]heprosecuting
attorneyorassistantprosecutingattorneymayatalltimesappearbeforethegrandjuryto
giveinformationrelativetoamattercognizablebyit,oradviceuponalegalmatterwhen
required.” R.C. 2939.10. Further, “[t]he prosecuting attorney may interrogate witnesses
beforethegrandjurywhenthegrandjuryortheprosecutingattorneyfindsitnecessary[.]”
Id.
Both Ohio and federal law provide that a grand jury, in addition to issuing
indictments,alsohasaninvestigativerole.TheSupremeCourtofOhiohasexplainedthat
theGrandJury’spowertoinvestigate“doesnotdependonacaseorcontroversyforpower
togetevidencebut[it]caninvestigatemerelyonsuspicion,thatthelawisbeingviolated,or
evenjustbecauseitwantsassurancethatitisnot.”InreCoastalStatesPetroleum,Inc.,32
OhioSt.2d81,84,290N.E.2d844,847(1972),citingUnitedStatesv.MortonSaltCo.,338
U.S. 632, 642‐643, 70 S.Ct. 357, 94 L.Ed. 401 (1950); see also In re Original Grand Jury
Investigation(Kaiser),3dDist.MercerNo.10‐02‐20,2003‐Ohio‐1670,¶9.“Thefunctionof
thegrandjuryistoinquireintoallinformationthatmightpossiblybearonitsinvestigation
untilithasidentifiedanoffenseorhassatisfieditselfthatnonehasoccurred.Asanecessary
consequenceofitsinvestigatoryfunction,thegrandjurypaintswithabroadbrush.”Id.“A
grandjury'sinvestigationisnotfullycarriedoutuntileveryavailablecluehasbeenrundown
andallwitnessesexaminedineveryproperwaytofindifacrimehasbeencommitted[.]”U.S.
v.Stone,429F.2d138,141(2dCir.1970).
33
Thegrandjury’straditionalinvestigativerolewasmeanttosafeguardcitizensfrom
unwarranted charges. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that “fair and effective law
enforcementaimedatprovidingsecurityforthepersonandpropertyoftheindividualisa
fundamentalfunctionofgovernment,andthegrandjuryplaysanimportant,constitutionally
mandated role in this process.” Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, 690, 92 S.Ct. 2646, 33
L.Ed.2d626(1972).“Thefunctionofthegrandjuryinoursocietyiscriticaltoprotectingthe
citizensofourcountry,bothfromcrimeandfromunwarrantedcriminalprosecution.”Inre
August28,2002GrandJury,151OhioApp.3d825,2003‐Ohio‐1184,786N.E.2d115,¶9(3d
Dist.).“Becauseitstaskistoinquireintotheexistenceofpossiblecriminalconductandto
return only well‐founded indictments, its investigative powers are necessarily broad.”
Branzburg, 408 U.S. at 688. The grand jury “is a grand inquest, a body with powers of
investigationandinquisition,thescopeofwhoseinquiriesisnottobelimitednarrowlyby
questionsofproprietyorforecastsoftheprobableresultoftheinvestigation,orbydoubts
whetheranyparticularindividualwillbefoundproperlysubjecttoanaccusationofcrime.”
Blairv.UnitedStates,250U.S.273,282,39S.Ct.468,63L.Ed.979(1919).
Becausethegrandjury’sinvestigativeroleensuresafull,fair,andunbiasedreviewby
agroupofindependentcitizens,theCuyahogaCountyProsecutor’sOfficeenactedapolicy
thatthegrandjurymustreviewallfatalpolicedeadlyforceincidents:
ToensurepublicconfidenceintheintegrityoftheCriminalJusticeSystem,thepolicy
of the County Prosecutor’s Office will be to present the facts of every fatal police
shooting and of all other fatal uses of deadly force by law enforcement officers in
CuyahogaCountytotheGrandJuryforreview.Wearecommittedinthesecasesto
conducting a thorough investigation that satisfies both the high standards of this
officeandtheneedsoftheGrandJury.
All relevant facts that are gathered by the police and, if necessary, by our own
investigatorswillbepresentedtotheGrandJuryinitstraditionalinvestigativerole.
Inaddition,duringthecourseofitsinvestigation,theCountyProsecutor’sOfficewill
listentoandconsidercredibleevidencefromanysource,includingdefenseattorneys
andlawyerswhomayberepresentingthedeceased’sfamilyincivillitigationagainst
thecity.
At the conclusion of an investigation and Grand Jury presentation, the decision to
chargeornotchargeultimatelyrestswiththeGrandJury.
If at the conclusion of the Grand Jury presentation, the County Prosecutor’s Office
does not believe there is sufficient evidence to charge the police officer or officers
with a crime or believes that the use of deadly force was justifiable by law or
necessarybyduty,theGrandJuryisinformedthatithasthefinalsay.Iftheydisagree
withtheassessmentoftheCountyProsecutor’sOffice,GrandJurorscanaskforatrue
bill‐nobillopportunityortheycanasktohearadditionalwitnessesandevidence.2
2Policy of The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office Regarding Fatal Use of Deadly Force by Law
EnforcementOfficers,availableathttp://prosecutor.cuyahogacounty.us/en‐US/use‐of‐deadly‐force‐
policy.aspx(lastviewedNovember19,2015).
34
b. Legal standard governing the use of deadly force by law enforcement
officers.
i.
Police officers may not be criminally charged in deadly force
incidentsunlesstheirconductviolatestheFourthAmendment.
TheFourthAmendmentguaranteesthat“[t]herightofthepeopletobesecureintheir
persons * * *, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated * * *.”
Wheneveralawenforcementofficerrestrainsthefreedomofapersontowalkaway,heor
shehasseizedthatperson.Tennesseev.Garner,471U.S.1,105S.Ct.1694,1699,85L.Ed.2d
1(1985).Apprehensionbytheuseofdeadlyforceisaseizuresubjecttothereasonableness
requirementoftheFourthAmendment.Id.Allclaimsthatlawenforcementofficershave
usedexcessiveforce—deadlyornot—inthecourseofanarrest,investigationstop,orother
‘seizure’ofafreecitizenmustthereforebeanalyzedundertheFourthAmendmentandits
‘reasonableness’standard.Grahamv.Connor,490U.S.386,395,109S.Ct.1865,1871,104
L.Ed.2d443(1989).
To determine whether a law enforcement officer is justified in using deadly force,
OhiofollowstherulesetforthinGarner.Statev.White,142OhioSt.3d277,290,2015‐Ohio‐
492,29N.E.3d939.Lawenforcementofficerscanonlyusedeadlyforceinmakinganarrest
wherethepolicehaveprobablecausetobelievethatthesuspectposesathreatofdeathor
seriousbodilyharmtothepoliceortopublic.Id.,citingGarner,471U.S.at11(referredto
as the “justification doctrine”). The Supreme Court of Ohio has explained that “Garner
requiresthattheofficerhave‘probablecausetobelievethatthesuspectposesathreatof
seriousphysicalharm’totheofficerorothers.Id.,citingGarner.TheGarnerCourt“gave
twoexamplesoftheconstitutionaluseofdeadlyforce:‘ifthesuspectthreatenstheofficer
withaweaponorthereisprobablecausetobelievethathehascommittedacrimeinvolving
theinflictionorthreatenedinflictionofseriousphysicalharm,deadlyforcemaybeusedif
necessarytopreventescape,andif,wherefeasible,somewarninghasbeengiven.’”White,at
282‐83,quotingGarner,at11‐12.
Whendeterminingwhetheralawenforcementofficerhadprobablecausetobelieve
thatasuspectposedathreatofseriousphysicalharmtotheofficerorothers,therequired
perspectiveisthatofthe“reasonableofficeronthescene,”standingintheofficer’sshoes,
perceiving what he then perceived and acting within the limits of his knowledge or
informationasitthenexisted.Grahamv.Connor,490U.S.at395.Thereasonablenessofthe
officers’actionsmustbejudgedfromtheperspectiveof“thereasonableofficeronthescene
andnotthroughthelensof20/20hindsight,allowingforthefact‘thatpoliceofficersare
often forced to makesplit‐second judgments—in circumstancesthat aretense, uncertain,
andrapidlyevolving.”Id.TheSixthCircuitU.S.CourtofAppealshasusedanon‐exhaustive
listofthreefactorstoevaluatewhetheranofficer’sactionsarereasonable:“(1)theseverity
ofthecrimeatissue;(2)whetherthesuspectposesanimmediatethreattothesafetyofthe
officersorothers;and(3)whetherthesuspectisactivelyresistingarrestorattemptingto
evadearrestbyflight.”Sigleyv.CityofParmaHeights,437F.3d527,534(6thCir.2006).
These factors inform the ultimate inquiry, which is always “whether the totality of the
circumstances”justifiedtheuseofforce.”Mullinsv.Cyranek,805F.3d760,2015U.S.App.
LEXIS 19485, *10 (6th Cir.2015), citing Livermore v. Lubelan, 476 F.3d 397, 404 (6th Cir.
2007).
35
What is a “reasonable” belief in light of the officer’s perceptions could also be a
mistaken belief, and the fact that it turned out to be mistaken does not detract from its
reasonablenesswhenconsideredwithinthefactualcontextandcompressedtime‐frameof
hisdecisiontoact.Statev.White,6thDist.No.L‐10‐1194,2013‐Ohio‐51,¶77,citingSaucier
v.Katz,533U.S.194,205‐206,121S.Ct.2151,150L.Ed.2d.272(2001).“Theofficermust
alsobegivensomeleewaywhenacourtanalyzesthereasonablenessofhisdecision.Itis
firstlyimportanttorememberwhatisa‘reasonable’beliefcouldalsobeamistakenbelief,
and that the fact it turned out to be mistaken does not undermine its reasonableness as
consideredatthetimeoftheacts.”Davenportv.Causey,521F.3d544,552(6thCir.2008).“If
anofficerreasonablyperceivedathreatofattackbyasuspect,apartfromtheactualattack,
to which the officer may respond preemptively. If his perceptions were objectively
reasonable,heincursnocriminalliabilityevenifnoweaponwasseen,orthesuspectwas
later found to be unarmed, or if what the officer mistook for a weapon was something
innocuous.”Whiteat¶65.(Citationsomitted).
Courtsaregenerallyhesitanttosecond‐guessthedecisionsmadebypoliceofficersin
the field. Vaughan v. Cox, 343 F.3d 1323, 1331 (11th Cir. 2003). “A court must avoid
substitutingitspersonalnotionsofproperpoliceprocedurefortheinstantaneousdecision
madebytheofficeratthescene.”Gammonv.Blakely,8thDist.CuyahogaNo.72175,1997
OhioApp.LEXIS5424,*12.Thisconstitutionalstandardappliestothecriminalprosecution
ofpoliceofficersthatallegedlyusedexcessiveforcewhenarrestingasuspect.Statev.White,
supra;UnitedStatesv.Reese,2F.3d870(9thCir.1993);Statev.Mantelli,42P.3d272,131
N.M.692,(N.M.App.2002);UnitedStatesv.Brugman,364F.3d613(5thCir.2004)(Border
patrol agent sentenced to 27 months imprisonment for beating illegal immigrant after
arrest).
ii.
Theprosecutor’sroleinthegrandjury.
InhisdissentinU.S.v.Williams,504U.S.36,69‐70,112S.Ct.1735,1753‐1754,118
L.Ed.2d352,379,(1992),JusticeStevensexplained:
Requiringtheprosecutortoferretoutandpresentallevidencethatcouldbeusedat
trialtocreateareasonabledoubtastothedefendant'sguiltwouldbeinconsistent
withthepurposeofthegrandjuryproceedingandwouldplacesignificantburdens
ontheinvestigation.Butthatdoesnotmeanthattheprosecutormaymisleadthe
grandjuryintobelievingthatthereisprobablecausetoindictbywithholding
clear evidence to the contrary. I thus agree with the Department of Justice that
“whenaprosecutorconductingagrandjuryinquiryispersonallyawareofsubstantial
evidence which directly negates the guilt of a subject of the investigation, the
prosecutormustpresentorotherwisedisclosesuchevidencetothegrandjurybefore
seeking an indictment against such a person.” U.S. Dept. of Justice, United States
Attorneys'ManualP9‐11.233,p.88(1988).
(Emphasisadded).
TheOhioRulesofProfessionalConductofferguidancetoprosecutorsastowhensuch
evidencemustbepresentedtoagrandjury.Theystatethat“[t]heprosecutorinacriminal
caseshallnot***pursueorprosecuteachargethattheprosecutorknowsisnotsupported
36
byprobablecause.”Prof.Cond.R.3.8(a)(emphasisinoriginal).Likewise,Prof.Cond.R.3.3(d)
statesthat“[i]nanexparteproceeding,alawyershallinformthetribunalofallmaterialfacts
knowntothelawyerthatwillenablethetribunaltomakeaninformeddecision,whetheror
notthefactsareadverse.”(Emphasisinoriginal).3Whenevertheprosecutorisproceeding
exparte,asinagrandjuryhearing,theethicsrulesrequirethatheorsheshouldofferthe
tribunal“allmaterialfacts”whetherornotadverse.RonaldD.Rotunda,LegalEthicsThe
Lawyer'sDeskbookonProfessionalResponsibility§29‐2.2(ABA2000)(citingABAModelRule
ofProfessionalConduct3.8(d)).Itisthereforeincumbentuponaprosecutorpresentinga
caseinvolvingalawenforcementofficer’sfataluseofdeadlyforcetoagrandjurytoexplain
thelegaldoctrineofjustificationandpresentallofthefactsthatcouldnegateprobablecause
insuchacase.
WithoutaclearlegalauthorityregardingtheburdenofproofonFourthAmendment
compliance, policy must ultimately decide who determines whether a law enforcement
officer’sfataluseofdeadlyforceisconstitutionallyjustified.Atthepre‐indictmentstage,the
policyinallfataluseofdeadlyforcecasesrequiresthatdecisionbeleftinthehandsofthe
grandjury.Ifthegrandjurydeterminestheofficer’sactionsviolatedtheFourthAmendment,
itwillthenconsiderwhatcriminalchargesshouldbebroughtagainsttheofficer.
IftheGrandJurydidnotfirstreviewtheissueofjustification,theresultwouldbea
criminalindictmentagainsteverylawenforcementofficerwhofatallyapplieddeadlyforce
in the line of duty, regardless of the facts. Since every fatal use of deadly force incident
necessarilyqualifiesasahomicide,areviewingandchargingprocessthatdidnotaddress
whetheranofficer’sactionswerejustifiedwouldautomaticallyresultinacriminaltrialfor
everyofficerineverycase.Suchasystemwouldbeunworkableandunfair.
iii.
UndertheFourthAmendment,thetacticsusedbytheofficerspriorto
the use of deadly force cannot be the basis for finding the use of
deadlyforceitselfunreasonable.
Theplaintiffs’attorneysrepresentingtheRicefamilyhaveprovidedtheprosecution
withreportsfromtwopoliceprocedureexpertswhohavearguedthatitisappropriateto
judgetheofficerstacticsleadinguptotheshooting.Theseexpertsbothrelyona2008Sixth
Circuitcase,Kirbyv.Duva,530F.3d475,482(6thCir.2008),inwhichthecourtwrotethat
“[w]hereapoliceofficerunreasonablyplaceshimselfinharm’sway,hisuseofdeadlyforce
maybedeemedexcessive.”Kirbyinvolvedpoliceofficerswhoshotanunarmeddriverwho
was attempting to flee. The Kirby Court explained prior to the incident, the decedent’s
vehicle“wasmovingslowlyandinanon‐aggressivemanner,couldnothavehitanyofthe
officers, and was stationary at the time of the shooting. Consequently, reasonable police
officers in defendants' positions would not have believed that Kirby ‘pose[d] a threat of
seriousphysicalharm,eithertotheofficer[s]ortoothers.’”Id.,quotingGarner,471U.S.at
1.
ThisinterpretationofKirbyhasnot,however,beenadoptedbytheSixthCircuitin
deadlyforcecaseswherepoliceofficersbelievedasuspecthadafirearm.InanotherSixth
3TherelevantlanguageinOhioRulesofProfessionalConduct3.3(d)and3.8(a)andABAModelRules
ofProfessionalConduct3.3(d)and3.8(a)substantiallymirroroneanother.
37
Circuitdeadlyforcecaseinvolvingasuspectwithafirearm,thecourtrejectedaclaimthat
theofficersrecklesslycreatedthecircumstancesthatledtothedeadlyconfrontation:
Livermorealsoassertsthat[thepoliceofficer]***intentionallyorrecklesslycreated
thecircumstancesleadingtoRohm'sdeath.
***
TheproperapproachunderSixthCircuitprecedentistoviewexcessiveforceclaims
insegments.Gaddisv.RedfordTwp.,364F.3d763,772(6thCir.2004);Dickersonv.
McClellan,101F.3d1151,1161(6thCir.1996).Thatis,thecourtshouldfirstidentify
the“seizure”atissuehereandthenexamine‘whethertheforceusedtoeffectthat
seizure was reasonable in the totality of the circumstances, not whether it was
reasonableforthepolicetocreatethecircumstances.’Dickerson,101F.3dat1161
(quotingCarterv.Buscher,973F.2d1328,1332(7thCir.1992)).TheDickersoncourt
reasoned:
The time‐frame is a crucial aspect of excessive force cases. Other than
randomattacks,allsuchcasesbeginwiththedecisionofapoliceofficerto
dosomething,tohelp,toarrest,toinquire.Iftheofficerhaddecidedtodo
nothing,thennoforcewouldhavebeenused.Inthissense,thepoliceofficer
alwayscausesthetrouble.Butitistroublewhichthepoliceofficerissworn
to cause, which society pays him to cause and which, if kept within
constitutionallimits,societypraisestheofficerforcausing.
Id.(quotingPlakasv.Drinski,19F.3d1143,1150(7thCir.1994));seealsoid.at1161‐
62 (citing with approval Drewitt v. Pratt, 999 F.2d 774, 778‐80 (4th Cir. 1993)
(rejectingaclaimthatanofficerwhoresortstodeadlyforceinself‐defenseviolates
theFourthAmendmentifheunreasonablyprovokestheshootingbyfailingtoidentify
himselfasapoliceofficer));Id.at1162(citingwithapprovalColev.Bone,993F.2d
1328,1333(8thCir.1993)(scrutinizing“onlytheseizureitself,nottheeventsleading
totheseizure,forreasonablenessundertheFourthAmendment”becausethe“Fourth
Amendment prohibits unreasonable seizures, not unreasonable or ill‐advised
conductingeneral.”)).
***
Dickerson instructs us to disregard these events and to focus on the “split‐second
judgments”madeimmediatelybeforetheofficerusedallegedlyexcessiveforce.See
Dickerson,101F.3dat1162(citingGreenidgev.Ruffin,927F.2d789,792(4thCir.
1991)andSherrodv.Berry,856F.2d802,805‐06(7thCir.1988)(enbanc)).
Livermore v. Lubelan, 476 F.3d 397, 406‐407 (6th Cir.2007) (emphasis added). The
Livermore court then held that “[u]nder Dickerson, the preceding decisions made by [the
police officer] are immaterial and not a sufficient basis for a claim under the Fourth
Amendment.”Id.
The suggestion that it is appropriate to analyze the tactics leading to a deadly
confrontationcontradictsclearly‐establishedSixthCircuitprecedentconcerningwhetherit
isappropriatetoscrutinizethepolicetacticsthatledtoadeadlyforceincident.Acareful
reading of Kirby, Mullins and Livermore demonstrates that that the actions of the officers
during the events leading up to the deadly force encounter fall outside of the Fourth
Amendment analysis. And while Kirby does stand for the proposition that unreasonable
38
conductduringtheseizureitselfmayresultinliabilityfortheofficers,thenecessaryinquiry
focusesonthesplit‐secondjudgmentsmadeimmediatelybeforethedeadlyforceincident.
Livermore,at407.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected this argument when it explained that a
personallegingthatanofficerusedexcessiveforce“cannot‘establishaFourthAmendment
violationbasedmerelyonbadtacticsthatresultinadeadlyconfrontationthatcouldhave
beenavoided.’”City&Cnty.ofSanFranciscov.Sheehan,135S.Ct.1765,1777(2015),quoting
Billingtonv.Smith,292F.3d1177,1190(9thCir.2002).“Courtsmustnotjudgeofficerswith
‘the20/20visionofhindsight.’”Sheehan,135S.Ct.at1777,quotingGraham,490U.S.,at396.
Sheehan involved police officers responding to a group home where a mentally
disabledwomanwasbehavingerraticallyandthreateningtokillhersocialworker.When
theofficersenteredherroom,thewomanlungedatthemwithaknife.Theofficersretreated
andclosedthedoor,thenre‐enteredtheroom.Thewomanagainlungedattheofficers,who
unsuccessfully pepper sprayed and then shot the woman several times. The woman
survived and sued the officers, claiming that the officers use of deadly force violated her
FourthAmendmentrightsandfailedaccommodateherdisabilityundertheAmericanswith
DisabilitiesAct.Id.at1769‐1772.TheCourtdeclinedtodecidewhethertheofficer’sspecific
failure to accommodate the woman’s disability under the ADA violated the Fourth
Amendment,andinsteadheldthattheofficersweregenerallyentitledtoqualifiedimmunity
under42U.S.C.§1983.Id.at1778.
OneoftheRicefamilyplaintiffs’expertsattemptstoevadeSheehan’sprohibitionon
reviewingtacticsbyclaimingthat“thatportionofthedecision***wasnotbindingdicta.”4
(NobleReportat7,¶27,fn13,citingSheehan,135S.Ct.at1777).Theexpertcitestopage
1777oftheSheehanopiniontosupporthisdismissaloftheSupremeCourt’sprohibitionon
reviewing officer’s tactics. A review of the entire passage from Sheehan, however,
demonstrates that the tactics language is central to the Court’s holding that the officers
shouldreceivequalifiedimmunityfornotviolatinganyoftheplaintiff’sclearlyestablished
FourthAmendmentrights:
Under Ninth Circuit law, an entry that otherwise complies with the Fourth
Amendmentisnotrenderedunreasonablebecauseitprovokesaviolentreaction.See
id., at 1189‐1190. Under this rule, qualified immunity necessarily applies here
because,asexplainedabove,competentofficerscouldhavebelievedthatthesecond
entry was justified under both continuous search and exigent circumstance
rationales. Indeed, even if Reynolds and Holder misjudged the situation, Sheehan
cannot“establishaFourthAmendmentviolationbasedmerelyonbadtactics
thatresultinadeadlyconfrontationthatcouldhavebeenavoided.”Id.,at1190.
Courts must not judge officers with “the 20/20 vision of hindsight.’” Ibid. (quoting
Graham,490U.S.,at396,109S.Ct.1865,104L.Ed.2d443).
When Graham, Deorle, and Alexander are viewed together, the central error in the
NinthCircuit’sreasoningisapparent.Thepanelmajorityconcludedthatthesethree
4“'Dicta'isdefinedas'expressionsincourt'sopinionswhichgobeyondthefactsbeforecourtand
thereforeare***notbindinginsubsequentcasesaslegalprecedent.'“WestfieldIns.Co.v.Galatis,
100OhioSt.3d216,2003Ohio5849,P85,797N.E.2d1256,(Sweeney,J.,dissenting)quotingBlack's
LawDictionary(6thed.1990).
39
cases “would have placed any reasonable, competent officer on notice that it is
unreasonabletoforciblyenterthehomeofanarmed,mentallyillsuspectwhohad
beenactingirrationallyandhadthreatenedanyonewhoenteredwhentherewasno
objectiveneedforimmediateentry.”743F.3d,at1229.Butevenassumingthatis
true, no precedent clearly established that there was not “an objective need for
immediate entry” here. No matter how carefully a reasonable officer read Graham,
Deorle, and Alexander beforehand, that officer could not know that reopening
Sheehan’s door to prevent her from escaping or gathering more weapons would
violatetheNinthCircuit’stest,evenifallthedisputedfactsareviewedinrespondent’s
favor.Withoutthat“fairnotice,”anofficerisentitledtoqualifiedimmunity.See,e.g.,
Plumhoff,572U.S.,at___,134S.Ct.2012,188L.Ed.2d1056,1069.
NordoesitmatterforpurposesofqualifiedimmunitythatSheehan’sexpert,Reiter,
testified that the officers did not follow their training. According to Reiter, San
Francisco trains its officers when dealing with the mentally ill to “ensure that
sufficientresourcesarebroughttothescene,”“containthesubject”and“respectthe
suspect’s“comfortzone,”“usetimetotheiradvantage,”and“employnon‐threatening
verbal communication and open‐ended questions to facilitate the subject’s
participationincommunication.”BriefforRespondent7.Likewise,SanFrancisco’s
policyis“‘tousehostagenegotiators’”whendealingwith“‘a suspect[who]resists
arrest by barricading himself.’” Id., at 8 (quoting San Francisco Police Department
General Order 8.02, §II(B) (Aug. 3, 1994), online at http://www.sf‐police.org (as
visitedMay14,2015,andavailableinClerkofCourt’scasefile)).
Even if an officer acts contrary to her training, however, (and here, given the
generalityofthattraining,itisnotatallclearthatReynoldsandHolderdidso),that
does not itself negate qualified immunity where it would otherwise be warranted.
Rather,solongas“areasonableofficercouldhavebelievedthathisconductwas
justified,”aplaintiffcannot“avoi[d]summaryjudgmentbysimplyproducing
anexpert’sreportthatanofficer’sconductleadinguptoadeadlyconfrontation
was imprudent, inappropriate, or even reckless.” Billington, supra, at 1189. Cf.
Saucier v. Katz, 533 U. S. 194, 216, n. 6, 121 S. Ct. 2151, 150 L. Ed. 2d 272 (2001)
(Ginsburg,J.,concurringinjudgment)(“‘[I]nclosecases,ajurydoesnotautomatically
get to second‐guess these life and death decisions, even though a plaintiff has an
expert and a plausible claim that the situation could better have been handled
differently’”(quotingRoyv.InhabitantsofLewiston,42F.3d691,695(CA11994))).
Considering the specific situation confronting Reynolds and Holder, they had
sufficientreasontobelievethattheirconductwasjustified.
Sheehan,135S.Ct.at1776‐1778(emphasisadded).
Perhapsmoreimportantthataprohibitiononreviewingtactics,Sheehanalsomakes
clearthatinauseofdeadlyforcecase,aFourthAmendmentviolationcannotbebasedsolely
upon“anexpert’sreportthatanofficer’sconductleadinguptoadeadlyconfrontationwas
imprudent, inappropriate, or even reckless.” Id. Yet that is exactly what the plaintiffs’
experts offer when they claim that these officers “engaged in reckless tactical decision
making that created the danger, thus the use of deadly force was excessive, objectively
unreasonableandinconsistentwithgenerallyacceptedpolicepractices”(NobleReport,p.5,
¶ 19) whose actions were “reckless, unreasonable, provocative, and dangerous” (Clark
SupplementalReport,p.2).Giventhedisagreementbetweenthepoliceprocedureexperts
40
whoreviewedthiscase(Katsaris,Sims,Crawford,Noble,andClark),thiscaseseemstofall
squarelyunderSheehan’sadmonitionthat“ajurydoesnotautomaticallygettosecond‐guess
theselifeanddeathdecisions,eventhoughaplaintiffhasanexpertandaplausibleclaimthat
thesituationcouldbetterhavebeenhandleddifferently.”Id.
5. Analysis
a. OfficersLoehmannandGarmbackwere dispatchedtohandleaCode‐1
callinvolvingamanwithagunthreateningpeopleatCudellRecreation
Center.
On November 22, 2014, at approximately 3:24 p.m., Officers Loehmann and
GarmbackreceivedtheDispatchcallforofficerstorespondtoaCode‐1incidentinvolvinga
manwithagunatCudellRecreationCenter.WithintheClevelandPolicedispatchsystem,a
Code‐1wasthehighestprioritycallanddesignatedtheincidentasasignificantpublicrisk.
Theofficerswerenotified(1)thatanamedindividualhadcalled911,(2)thecallerreported
thatablackmalesittingintheswingkept“pullingagunoutofhispantsandpointingitat
people,”(3)themalewiththegunwas‘wearingacamouflagehat,agrayjacketwithblack
sleeves.”Becausethe911call‐takerhadnottransmittedanyinformationtotheDispatcher
about the suspect possibly being a juvenile, or the gun possibly being a fake, Officers
LoehmannandGarmbackonlyknewthatamaninacamouflagehatandagrayjacketwith
blacksleeveswassittingattheCudellswingspullingagunoutofhispantsandpointingit
people. When Officers Loehmann and Garmback saw Tamir at the Gazebo as they
approachedCudellRecreationCenter,hisappearancematchedthedescriptionprovidedby
theDispatchers.
AlthoughTamirwasonly12yearsold,alloftheofficerswhosawhimonNovember
22, 2014 mistook him as an older male. The Medical Examiner’s report lists Tamir as
weighing195poundsatthetimeofautopsy.TheclearestindicationoftheOfficers’mistaken
belief that Tamir was much older comes when Officer Garmback radioed Dispatch for an
ambulancenearly40secondsaftertheshooting,describinghimasa“blackmale,maybe20
[yearsold].”TheFBISpecialAgentwhotreatedTamiratthescenewasalsosurprisedto
learnthatTamirwasonly12,asweretheotherofficerswhosawhimonNovember22,2014.
b. Officer Garmback’s decision to use the West 99th Street approach to
quicklyconfrontwhathehadbeeninformedwasanarmedsuspectnear
theRecreationCenterwasreasonable.
OnNovember22,2015,OfficerLoehmannwasatraineeofficerassignedtoOfficer
Garmback, whose responsibility was to supervise and train Loehmann. Loehmann and
Garmbackwereatwo‐manunit,andGarmbackdrovethevehiclebothmenusedtopatrol.
Astheseniorofficer,GarmbackwasresponsibleforboththedecisiontotaketheWest99th
StreetapproachinrespondingtotheCode‐1callatCudell,aswellasthetacticsusedbythe
officerstoconfrontthesuspecttheybelievedwaspullingagunoutandpointingitatpeople
attherecreationcenter.
TheSixthCircuithassetdownnon‐exhaustivelistofthreefactorstoevaluatewhether
anofficer’sactionsarereasonable:“(1)theseverityofthecrimeatissue;(2)whetherthe
41
suspectposesanimmediatethreattothesafetyoftheofficersorothers;and(3)whetherthe
suspectisactivelyresistingarrestorattemptingtoevadearrestbyflight.”Sigleyv.Cityof
Parma Heights, 437 F.3d 527, 534 (6th Cir.2006). When analyzed according to the
informationthatOfficersLoehmannandGarmbackhadatthetimeoftheincident,boththe
firstandsecondfactorsweighheavilyinfavoroftheofficers.
i. Asuspectpointingagunatpeopleatarecreationcenterposesa
severethreattothesafetyofofficersandthepublic.
Accordingtotheinformationknowntotheofficersatthetime,thesuspectinthiscase
wasbelievedtobeengaginginextremelyseriouscriminalbehavior:pointingagunatpeople
at a recreation center. In Mullins v. Cyranek, supra, the Sixth Circuit examined another
suspect’sdecisiontopulloutaguninapublicplace,andexplainedtheseriousnessofthe
incident:
Turningtothereasonablenessfactors,wefindthattheseverity‐of‐the‐crimeinquiry
weighsinfavorofCyranek.Wemeasurethereasonablenessoftheuseofdeadlyforce
ataparticulartimebasedonan“objectiveassessmentofthedangerasuspectposes
atthatmoment.”Bouggessv.Mattingly,482F.3d886,889(6thCir.2007)(emphasis
added).Thus,inanalyzingthereasonablenessofCyranek'suseofforce,wemustlook
at Mullins's behavior immediately prior to the moment he was shot. Although
Cyranekadmitsthat,attheoutset,hehadprobablecausetobelieveonlythatMullins
hadaweapon—afirstdegreemisdemeanorifpossessedwithoutapermit,seeOhio
Rev.Code§2923.12—MullinsremovalofahandguninCyranek'spresencewithout
Cyranek's permission constituted a much more serious offense.See, e.g., Ohio Rev.
Code § 2923.12(B)(3), (F)(5) (making it a fifth degree felony for someone with a
concealedhandgunlicensetoremovetheirfirearmwithoutpermissionduringalaw
enforcementstop).ThedistrictcourtnotedthatMullins'actionsmayalsofallwithin
Ohio's felonious assault statute. Mullins, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98736, 2014 WL
3573565,at*11n.17(citingOhio.Rev.Code§2903.11).
Mullinsv.Cyranek,2015U.S.App.LEXIS19485,*11,805F.3d760(6thCir.2015).
In this case, Officers Loehmann and Garmback had been given information from a
citizen‐callerwhogavebothhisnameandhistelephonenumber,whichisgenerallythemost
reliableformofinformationanofficercanreceivefromaninformant.SeeLewisR.Katz,Ohio
Arrest, Search and Seizure, 2015 Ed., § 2:22, p. 93 (“[r]eliable information obtained from
credible informants suffices to establish probable cause. * * * A report of a crime by an
identifiedvictimoradisinterested,identifiedwitnessmaybetakenatfacevalueandacted
upon without further checking the veracity of the source of information”). Officers
LoehmannandGarmbackthereforehadprobablecause,basedontheinformationprovided
by Dispatch, that the suspect at Cudell had violated Ohio’s felonious assault statute, R.C.
2903.11,bytakingagunoutandpointingitatpeople.
The security video5 evidence demonstrates numerous instances corroborating the
911caller’sconcernaboutamanpointingagunatpeopleattheRecreationCenter:
5TheStatehiredForensicVideoSolutions,acompanylocatedinSpokaneWashington,toperform
forensic video analysis of the Cudell Recreation Center Security Video. Grant Fredericks, the
42
(GrantFredericks’Reportatp.16).
company’s analyst, prepared the magnified camera views of the incident cited in this report.
Fredericksistheonlyforensicvideoanalysttohaveprovidedareportinthiscase.Frederickshas
served as a Team Leader for the Law Enforcement & Forensic Services Video Association (LEVA)
VideoAnalysisCertificationProgram,aTeamLederforLEVA’sCurriculumDevelopmentCommittee,
hasservedforthepast12yearsasaninstructorofForensicVideoAnalysisandDigitalMultimedia
EvidenceProcessingfortheFBINationalAcademyinQuantico,VA.AcopyofFredericks’complete
credentialsiscontainedwithinhisreport,availableontheProsecutor’sOfficewebsite.
43
(Slide496,Video4,Timestamp15:09:01).
44
Just three minutes before Officers Loehmann and Garmback arrived, the security
videorecordedTamirundertheGazeboattimestamp15:27:14,againpullingoutthereplica
firearmandpointingit:
45
Itisclearfromtheforegoingevidencethatduringthehoursandminutesbeforehiscontact
withOfficerLoehmann,Tamirhadbeenseenpullingthereplicafirearminandoutofhis
waist.Seeingthiscausedthe911callersuchconcernthathetoldthe911calltakerthat
Tamirwas“scaringtheshit”outofhim.
ii. The incident conforms to the Cleveland Police Department Active
Shooterpolicy.
Sincethe1999mass‐shootingincidentatColumbineHighSchoolinColorado,police
departmentsthroughouttheUnitedStateshavegenerallyre‐assessedastrategythatcalled
for containment and reliance on specialized SWAT teams to handle gunmen and public
threats. See generally, Responding to An Active Shooter, available at
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/responding‐to‐an‐active‐shooter‐60‐minutes‐anderson‐
cooper/(lastviewedDecember23,2015).Instead,policedepartmentshaveshiftedfrom
thecontain‐and‐wait‐for‐backupstrategytowardsastrategythatcallsforthefirstofficers
respondingtoascenetoquicklyengageandattempttoneutralizeactiveshooters.Id.This
newapproachisintendedtolessenthelossoflifecausedbyactiveshooterswhilewaiting
forSWATteamsandbackuptoarrive.
Consistentwiththisgeneraltrend,theClevelandPoliceDepartmentenactedanactive
shooter policy “[t]o empower the patrol officer or first responder to confront an active
shooterwhenanydelayedresponseorafailuretoactconstitutesagreaterriskthanwaiting
foraspecializedresponse.”(ClevelandPoliceDepartmentActiveShooterPolicy,p.1).The
Department’sActiveShooterpolicy,whichwentintoeffectonOctober18,2011,definesan
activeshooterscenario:
Thesuspect'sactivityanduseofafirearm(oranyotherdeadlyinstrument,device,
machine,dangerousordnance,ordeadlyhazard)iscausingorattemptingtocause
immediatedeathand/orseriousphysicalharminawellpopulatedarea(target
richenvironment),suchasaschool,church,business,oranyotherpublicplace.
Theactivityiscontinuingandthereisanimmediateandongoingthreatofdeathor
seriousphysicalharmtopotentialvictims.
46
(ClevelandPoliceDepartmentActiveShooterPolicyatpp.1‐2,emphasisadded).Thepolicy
statesinrelevantpart:
Inordertopreventdeathorseriousharmtoinnocentpersons,officersresponding
toanactiveshooterincident shall havetheauthoritytoandshallattemptto
make immediate contact with and stop the active shooter. Secondarily,
respondingofficersshalldenytheactiveshooteraccesstoadditionalvictimsandshall
rescueinjured/potentialvictims.OfficersshallrelyontheirRapidActionImmediate
Deployment(RAID)trainingtoquicklyandefficientlymountanimmediateresponse
priortotheavailabilityofatacticalunit.Inactivesituations,delayedresponsecan
resultinadditionallossoflifeorseriousphysicalharm.
(ClevelandPoliceDepartmentActiveShooterPolicyatp.1,emphasisadded).
Applyingthepolicytothissituation,OfficerGarmbackprovidedastatementtothe
Sheriff’sDepartmentinwhichheexplainedthatwhenheapproachedthesuspectfromW.
99thStreet,“[p]artof[his]intentions[were]tokeephimawayfromenteringtheRecreation
CenterBuilding.”(GarmbackStatementatp.1,¶7).Garmbackhadreasonablegroundsto
believehewasfacingapotentialactiveshooter.BasedupontheinformationDispatchhad
providedtotheofficers,theyhadreasontobelievethatasuspectwhokeptpullingagunout
and pointing at people was attempting to cause death and/or serious physical harm at a
target rich environment, Cudell Recreation Center. Read within a policy that authorized
officerstopreventdeathorseriousharmtoinnocentpersonsbymakingimmediatecontact
withandstoppinganactiveshooter,Garmback’sactions–accordingtotheinformationhe
hadatthetime–fitwithinthestatedpolicy.
Contrary to what some have claimed, there were numerous people at Cudell
Recreation Center at the time of the incident. At the precise moment of the shooting,
approximately20peopleweregatheredintheCudellgymnasium, whoseentranceis200
feetawayfromthegazebo.ThefollowingimagewastakenbytheCudellRecreationCenter
securityvideosystemat15:30:22:
47
At 15:30:32, the recreation center’s security video system recorded four people standing
outsideofthemainentrance:
Duringthetenminutespriortotheincident,numerouspeoplecouldbeseenwalkingpast
theRecreationCenter’ssecuritycameras.Forexample:
48
AsanexperiencedFirstDistrictofficer,Garmbackwouldhaveknownthatduringbusiness
hours,theRecreationCenterwouldbecrowdedwithchildrenandadults.Itwastherefore
reasonable for Garmback to believe that an armed suspect was easily capable of gaining
accesstotheRecreationcenterandthreateninglives.
iii. Officer Garmback approached the incident using a route commonly
takenbyFirstDistrictOfficers.
Giventhisbackdrop,Garback’schosenroutetoconfrontthesuspectbymeansofthe
West99thStreetroutewaslikewiseareasonablechoice.Garmback’sstatementindicates
thatheknewthattheswingsetarea–thedispatchedlocationofthearmedsuspect–could
be accessed easily from the West 99th Street route. (Garmback Statement, p. 1, ¶ 4).
Garmbackalsoknewthattheswingsetareawouldbecutofffromaparkinglotapproach
becauseofautomobilebarriers.Id.
CriticsofOfficerGarmback’sWest99thStreetrouteandapproachhaveaccusedhim
ofrecklessnessbecauseitledhimtodrivedirectlyintoapointofcontactwithTamir,leaving
Officer Loehmann in an exposed position that may have contributed to his use of deadly
force. The evidence, however, demonstrates that after he saw Tamir at the Gazebo,
Garmbackintendedtostopmuchearlierthanhedid,andthathiscarslidduetotheslippery
surfaceconditions.TheOhioStateHighwayPatrolAccidentReconstructionReportnotes
“[t]herewassomesnowonthegrassatthetimeofthevideo,especiallytowardsthefinal
restarea,butthepre‐approachwasprimarilywetgrasswithalayeroffallentreeleaves.”
(OhioStateHighwayPatrolReportatp.39).TheStateHighwayPatrolReportindicatesthat
OfficerGarmbackappliedhisbrakesasignificantdistancebeforehiscontactwithTamir:
Afterplottingthevehicle,Iaddedtwoparallellines28’4”southofthevehicle’s
rearbumper.Iaddedinthevehicle’smeasuredlengthandobtainedadistanceof40.8
ft. (40’9.6”) which was consistent with detective Sandoval’s measurements. In his
narrative,DetectiveSandovalindicatedthiswashisobservedlengthoftheskidmarks
leadingtofinalrestofCar#115A.
The scene photography, while limited, appeared to show different. Several
images clearly show at least the left tire mark extending south to the concrete
sidewalk, adding approximately 11.3 ft. in additional length to the tire marks.
Moreover,thetiremarksarevisibleontheoppositesideofthesidewalknearthearea
ofimpactwiththeplayarea,approximately32.4ft.southofthemeasuredskidmarks.
49
While the tire marks are visible beyond this area, the video shows evidence of
steeringinputpriortoimpactwiththeplaygroundcurb.Visiblesteeringinputmakes
thepossibilityofevasivebrakingpriortoimpactwiththecurbunlikely,evenwith
anti‐lockbrakesactivated.
BasedupontheobservationsofDetectiveSandoval,evidenceobtainedfrom
thesurveillancevideoandscenephotography,Car#115Adeceleratedtoastopover
adistancebetween40.8ft.and73.3ft.
(OhioStateHighwayPatrolReportatp.39).Thereportcalculatedtheminimumslidetostop
brakingtimeof3.5seconds(fora40.8footslide),amaximumslidetostopbrakingtimeof
4.5seconds(fora73.3footslide),andanaverageslidetostopbrakingtimeof4seconds(for
a56.9footslide).(OhioStateHighwayPatrolReportatp.40).Itisthereforeclearthatwhen
Officer Garmback saw Tamir begin walking towards the officers’ route, he immediately
appliedthebrakes,intendingtostopwellshortoftheGazebo.
c. Credible evidence firmly corroborates Officers Loehmann and
Garmback’sstatementsthattheysawthesuspectwithagun.
Officer Loehmann and Officer Garmback both gave the Sheriff’s investigators
statements in which they described having seen the suspect in possession of a gun.
Loehmannstated:
Aswewereevenwiththeswingset,weobservedamalematchingthedescription
givenbytheradioseatedundertheGazebo.Themalewaswearingacamouflagehat
andgreyjacketwithblacksleeves.***Isawthesuspect.***Isawthesuspectpick
upanobjectandstickitdownintohiswaistbandandhestoodupandwalkedtowards
theRecreationCenter.
***
Thesuspectliftedhisshirtreacheddownintohiswaistband.
***
Thesuspecthadagun...
***
Iobservedthesuspectpullingthegunoutofthewaistbandwithhiselbowcomingup.
***Withhishandspullingthegunoutandhiselbowcomingup,Iknewitwasagun
anditwascomingout.Isawtheweaponinhishandscomingoutofhiswaistband...
(LoehmannStatementatpp.1‐2).Likewise,OfficerGarmbackstated:
IfirstsawthegunthatthemalehadagunaboutthetimePtl.Loehmannexitedthe
cruiser.Themalewaspullingitfromtherightfrontareaofhiswaistband.Ithought
thegunwasreal.
***
Isawthegunlooseontheground,afewfeetfromthemaleafterhewasshot.Imoved
itfurtherawayfromhim.
(GarmbackStatementatpp.1‐2).
Informationgatheredduringtheinvestigationdemonstratesthatfromthevantage
pointLoehmannwouldhavehadashetraversedtheswingsetarea,itispossibletohave
50
seen the suspect in the manner that Loehmann described. BCI’s 360∘ recreation of the
incidentinApril2015producedthefollowingvantagepointoftheGazeboasseenfromthe
areaadjacenttheswingsets:
i.
Forensicvideoanalysisconfirmstheofficers’statements.
Theofficersarestatementsarelikewisecorroboratedbythesecurityvideocamera’s
depictionoftheshooting.GrantFredericksassembledslidescontainingeachframefrom
CudellRecreationCenterSecurityCameras1and4,alongwithtimestampdatarecordedby
theDVR.AccordingtoFredericks,Tamirstoodupandbeganwalking10secondsbeforethe
police vehicle stopped at the Gazebo. The following slide, numbered 75 in Fredericks’
sequence,showsamagnificationofCamera1,andunmagnifiedviewsofCameras1and4.
AsseeninSlide75,Camera4showsthattheheadlightsofLoehmannandGarmback’scruiser
couldbeseenapproachingtheswingsetareaasTamirstoodup:
51
Inhisreport,Fredericksdescribeswhathappenednext:
Slides118to121showRicemovingforwardtowardthepolicevehicle.Hishandsare
still together at the center of his body. His hands are not in the area of his jacket
pockets.
AtSlide122,Rice’srighthandhasmoveddownward,towardhiswaist.Hislefthand
hasalsomoveddownward.
Slide123showsthatRice’srightshoulderhasmovedupwardandthathisrightarm
isslightlybent.Theendofhisdarksleeveisathiswaistarea.Hislefthandismoving
towardthecenterofhiswaist.
Also at Slide 123, the video shows that the door of the police vehicle is partially
opened.Thepolicevehiclehasnotyetstoppedmoving.
Slide124showsRice’srightshoulderandarmrisingupward.Hisrighthandisabove
theareaofhiswaist.
Rice’slefthandisatthecenterofhisstomacharea,slightlyabovehiswaist.Hisgrey
jacketisnotatthewaistline;itishigherthanthewaist.Ricehasliftedthejacketwith
hislefthand,asheremovesthegunwithhisrighthand.Thisisthesameactivitythat
isdepictedineachofthepreviousobservationsshowingRicemanipulatingthegun
inandoutofthewaistbandareaofhispants.
ThereisnovisualevidenceatSlide124supportingthattheshothadbeenfiredprior
tothispointintime,oratthispointintime.Thepurportedtimestampshowsthisis
thefirstimageat15:30:23.
52
Slide 125, which represents the second image recorded at 15:30:23, shows Rice
reactingtotheshotbeingfired.Ricebeginstofalltotheground.Theshotisfired
slightlybeforetherecordedimage.
Slide126showsRicecontinuingtomovedownwardintheimage.OfficerLoehmann
moves toward the rear of the police vehicle. He appears to have traveled
approximatelyfourfeet.
AtSlide127,Loehmannismovingtothegroundattherearleftcornerofthepolice
vehicle.Loehmannremainsonthegroundforafewimages.
(Fredericks Report at pp. 25‐26). Based upon this information, Fredericks’ states that
“[a]ftercarefullyexaminingthevideoimagesandothermaterialslistinthisreport,Ihave
formedtheopinionthatatthetimeoftheshootingTamirRiceliftedhisjacketwithhisleft
hand,andwithhisrighthand,hereachedforthegunthatwaslocatedinthewaistareaofhis
pants.(FredericksReportat29).
Fredericks’ magnification work visually depicts the incident in slides 121‐125 of
Video6:
53
54
Twopoliceprocedureexpertsandanaccidentreconstructionexpertemployedbythe
Ricefamilyplaintiffs’attorneyshaveopinedthatRicedidnotdisplaythereplicaFirearmto
Officers Loehmann and Garmback in the moments before he was shot.6 None of these
6 Noble writes that “Officer Loehmann claims Tamir lifted his shirt and reached down into his
waistband—factsthataredirectlycontradictedbythevideo.”(NobleSupplementalReportatp.4,¶
4).Clarkwritesthat“Tamir’sarmandhandmovementswereunderstandablynaturalanddonot
demonstrate him deliberately reaching into his waist for a gun or pulling out a gun.” (Clark
55
purported experts, however, have any training in forensic video analysis and have never
been recognized as experts in that field. As plaintiffs’ police procedure expert Noble
concedes at multiple points, the video “picture is grainy and lacks detail.” (Noble
Supplemental Report at p. 2). Neither Noble, Clark, nor Wobrock have any more
qualificationsthanalaymantoexpressanyopinionstoareasonabledegreeofprofessional
certaintyaboutwhatthevideodepicts.Withouthavingbeenpresentduringtheshooting
incidentitself,thesenon‐expertopinionsaboutwhatcanbeseenonvideoarenotreliable,
helpfulorcredible.
ii.
Thepositionofthegunaftertheshootingandtheofficers’defensive
reactionconfirmsthattheysawthesuspectpullingoutagun.
Thevideoalsodepictstwocrucialfactsthatconfirmtheofficers’claimsthattheysaw
thesuspectpullingagunoutofhiswaistband.First,carefulexaminationofthevideoduring
themomentsafterOfficerLoehmannshotTamirshowsapointofdarkcontrast(circledin
red)appearontheGazebo’sconcretefloorimmediatelyafterTamirfalls,asshowninslide
130’smagnificationofCamera1:
The dark area of contrast remains visible until Slides 197‐199, when Officer Garmback
approaches Tamir and uses his left leg to kick the area where the dark point of contrast
(circledinred)canbeseen:
SupplementalReportatpp.1‐2).Dr.JesseWobrockwrites:“TamirRicedidnothaveenoughtimeto
removehishandsfromhisjacketpockets,priortobeingshot”and“[t]hevideoshowsthatatnopoint
inhisencounterwiththepolicedidTamirRicereachintohiswaistband.”(WobrockReportatp.7).
56
Garmbackcompletesthekickingmovementwithhislegasofslide201,whenthedarkarea
ofcontrastisnolongervisible:
Again,OfficerGarmbackexplainedinhisstatementthathe“sawagunlooseontheground,
a few feet from the male after he was shot. I moved it further away from him.” Careful
examination of the aforementioned slides corroborates Garmback’s account and strongly
indicatesthatthedarklycontrastedobjectintheslideswasTamir’sreplicafirearm,which
TamirdroppedoutofhishandafterbeingshotbyOfficerLoehmann.Indeed,theCleveland
PoliceDepartment’sscenephotosshowthereplicafirearmandmagazineontheground7
nearthespotwhereTamirfell:
7 Officers at the scene placed plastic over the replica firearm to prevent rain from falling on the
evidence. The final location of the replica firearm on the grass is explained by Officer Garmback
havingkickedthegunawayfromtheGazebo,asshownabove.
57
The plaintiffs’ attorneys’ police procedure and accident reconstruction experts make no
attempt to account for how the replica firearm ended up on the ground. If, as they have
claimed,Tamirwasnotpullingoutthereplicafirearmwhenhegotshotandhishandshad
beeninhispockets,thereplicafirearmwouldhaveremainedconcealedunderhisclothing.
Instead,thefactthatthedarklycontrastedshapeappearsonthevideoimmediatelyafter
LoehmannshotTamirstronglysuggeststhatFredericks’observationswerecorrect:Officer
LoehmannshotTamirafterTamirwaspullinguphisjacketwithhislefthandandwasusing
hisrighthandtopullouthisreplicafirearmfromhiswaistband.
ThephysicalevidencealsoconfirmsFredericks’conclusionthatTamirwaspullingup
hisjacketatthetimehewasshot.Themedicalexaminer’sautopsyreportnotedthatTamir’s
gunshot wound was found “on the left side of the abdomen slightly above the umbilicus
located23½”belowthetopoftheheadand½”totheleftofmidline.”(MedicalExaminer’s
Autopsy Report at p. 1, emphasis added). The Medical Examiner’s Trace Evidence
LaboratoryReportdescribesthelocationofthebulletentrancewoundonTamir’sjacket:
DefectAentrance(3/16Inchdiameter)located18Inchesbelowtheleftmid‐shoulderpoint
and33/4Inchesleftoftheanteriormid‐bodyline.”(MedicalExaminer’sTraceEvidence
LaboratoryReportatp.3,emphasisadded).Forthebulletentranceonthejacket(3¾”left
of midline 18 inches below mid‐shoulder) to line up with the bullet wound (1/2” left of
midline,abovethenavel),thejacketwouldhavehadtobepulled“upandtotheright,”as
notedbyplaintiffs’accidentreconstructionistWobrock.(Wobrockreportatp.7).Although
WobrockbelievesthiswascausedbyTamirraisinghisarms“defensively,”withhishandsin
hispockets,theevidenceisneverthelessconsistentwithFredericks’conclusionthatTamir
waspullinghisjacketupwithhislefthandatthetimehewasshotbyOfficerLoehmann.
Thesecondsignificantfactrevealedbythevideo,andwhichgoesunaddressedbythe
plaintiffs’policeprocedureexperts,isthatthesecurityvideoshowsbothOfficersreacting
defensivelytoTamirevenafterhewasshot,indicatingtheybothhadseenTamirwithwhat
58
theythoughtwasagun.OfficersLoehmannandGarmbackbothtookupdefensivepositions
withtheirgunsdrawn,evenafterTamirhadfallentotheconcreteGazebofloor,seeninVideo
6,slides135‐200,andillustratedbelowinthemagnifiedportionofslide141:
Indeed, as Officer Garmback summoned EMS to the scene, the police dispatch audio
recordingshowsthatLoehmanncouldbeheardcontinuingtoyellinthebackground.8The
videodepictsGarmbackraisinghishandstotheareaofhisshouldermicrophoneatslide
204,whosetimecodeis15:31:03,or41secondsafterTamirwasshot.
EvenafterTamirhadbeenshot,thesecurityvideoshowsthatbothGarmbackand
LoehmanngenuinelybelievedthatTamircontinuedtoposeathreat.Bothofficerscontinue
tohavetheirgunsdrawnuntilOfficerGarmbackkickedthereplicafirearmawayatslides
197‐200.Thisstronglysupportsbothofficers’statementsthattheysawthesuspectpulling
agunoutofhiswaist.If,astheplaintiffs’policeprocedureexpertssuggest,neitherofficer
hadseenTamirpullingoutagun,theywouldnothavehadareasontoremaininadefensive
positionafterTamirhadfallentotheground.
Even if Officer Loehmann had not observed Tamir pulling the gun out of his
waistband,theSixthDistrictCourtofAppealsexplainedthatasuspect’sbodylanguagemay
stillgivetheofficerreasonablebeliefthatheposesanimminentriskofharm:
In evaluating reasonableness in the threat‐perception cases, courts have also
acceptedthatofficersaretrainedtorecognizecertainbehaviorsand"bodylanguage"
asdangercues.Theseincludeobviousattemptstoevadetheofficer,furtivegestures
andglances,suddenturns,andtheignoringofcommands,suchasanordertoshow
one's hands. Because such encounters often occur at night, this limits vision
significantlyandenhancesrisktoboththeofficerandthesuspect.SeeThompsonv.
Hubbard,257F.3d896,899(8thCir.2001)(unarmedsuspectshotwhile"look[ing]
8Loehmann’s voice can be heard over Garmback’s at timecode 4:15 of the Police Dispatch audio
recordingoftheincident.
59
overshoulder"atofficerand"mov[ing]hisarmsasthoughreachingforaweaponat
waistlevel." Noweaponfound); Reese,supra,at500‐501(officercouldreasonably
believethatsuspectincarwasreachingforagunonfloorboard.Noweaponfound);
Slatteryv.Rizzo,939F.2d213,215(4thCir.1991)(officerreasonablyfeltthreatened
bysuspectturningtowardhimwithoutlefthandinview.Noweaponfound);Davisv.
Freels,583F.2d337(7thCir.1978)(suspect,orderedtoraisehands,shotinbackafter
officersaw"suddenmotionwithhisrightelbowinabackwarddirection."Noweapon
found).
Themotionmostcommonlyidentifiedbycourtsthatpromptedtheofficertobelieve
preemptivegunfirewasneededisthereachtowardthewaistbandorintoapocket.
InAndersonv.Russell,supra,theofficershotanunarmedsuspectwho,ignoringthe
officer's orders, "was lowering his hands in the direction of a bulge" near "[his]
waistband."Id.247F.3dat130.ThebulgewasafterwarddiscoveredtobeaWalkman
radio.TheFourthCircuitfound"[Officer]Russell'ssplit‐seconddecisiontousedeadly
force***reasonableinlightofRussell'swell‐founded,thoughmistaken,beliefthat
[thesuspect]wasreachingforahandgun."Id.at132.SeealsoSherrodv.Berry,856
F.2d 802, 804‐05 (7th Cir.1988) (unarmed suspect shot while making a "quick
movementwithhishandintohiscoat[asifreaching]foraweapon");Lamontv.New
Jersey,637F.3d177,179(3dCir.2011)("suspect[shotafter]suddenlypull[ing]his
right hand out of his waistband [as] though he were drawing a gun." Crack pipe
found).
State v. White, 6th Dist. No. L‐10‐1194, 2013‐Ohio‐51, ¶¶ 66‐67. Had Officer Loehmann
knownthatTamirwasonly12,thatheonlypossessedatoygun,itispossiblethathewould
nothavefoundTamir’smovementsthreateningandmaynothavechosentoshootinthat
moment.ButOfficerLoehmanndidnotknowthosefacts,andthelawrequiresthathebe
judgedaccordingtowhetherheactedreasonablywiththeonlythosefactsheknewatthe
time.
Here, the Officers had information from Dispatch that the suspect – whose
descriptionmatchedTamirexactly–hadbeenpullingagunoutofhiswaistandpointingit
atpeople.Giventhosefacts,anymovementbyTamirtowardsabulgeorapocketnearhis
waistcouldhavebeenmistakenbyOfficerLoehmannasamovementtowardsagun.Since
OfficerLoehmannhadbeengiveninformationfromDispatchthathehadreasontobelieve
wasaccurate,anymovementbyTamirneartheareawhereLoehmannbelievedhimtohave
a firearm could have led him to a reasonable, but mistaken, belief that Tamir posed an
imminentthreatofseriousphysicalharm.
iii.
Officers Loehmann and Garmback’s subsequent statements are
consistentwiththeevidenceinthiscase.
Loehmann and Garmback’s subsequent statements to fellow officers after the
incidentalsosupportFredericks’conclusions.Aftertheshooting,OfficerLoehmannmadea
statement to Officer Cunningham, the off‐duty Cleveland Police Officer sitting at the
RecreationCenterentranceatthetimeoftheincident.Within90secondsoftheincident,
Cunningham askedOfficer Loehmann “What happened?” Loehmann responded “he didn’t
givemeachance…hereachedforthegunandhegavemenochoice.TherewasnothingI
60
coulddo.”Loehmann’sstatementtoCunningham–givenwhilehewasstillunderthestress
oftheincident–wouldbeadmissibleasanexceptiontothegeneralruleagainsthearsay
becauseitisan“excitedutterance.”Evid.R.803(2)(astatement“relatingtoastartlingevent
orconditionmadewhilethedeclarantwasperceivingtheeventorcondition,orimmediately
thereafter...”).“Thisexceptionderivesitsguarantyoftrustworthinessfromthefactthat
[the]declarantisundersuchstateofemotionshockthathisreflectiveprocesseshavebeen
stilled. Therefore, statements under these circumstances are not likely to be fabricated.”
PaulC.Giannelli,Baldwin’sOhioPracticeRulesofEvidenceHandbook,2014Ed.,p.651,citing
McCormick § 297 (2d Ed. 1972). As explained above, there is no reason to believe that
Loehmann’sstatementtoCunninghamatthatmomentwasnottrustworthy.9
At the scene, Loehmann also described the incident to the FBI Special Agent, who
indicatedthatLoehmanntoldhimthatTamir“hadagunandhereachedforitafterhetold
himtoshowhishands.”TheSpecialAgentobservedthatLoehmann“seemedlikeaguythat
wasputinaverydifficultsituationandhadtomakeaveryquickdecisionbaseduponwhat
hebelievedwasanimminentfearofdeathorseriousphysicalinjurytohimselfandreacted
toit.”OfficerLouKitko,anotherofficeratthescene,recountedthatLoehmannstatedthathe
hadshotTamirafter“yellingcommandsatthemale,theystoppedthecarandthemalewent
forthefirearmandtriedtopullitout.”OfficerThomasGriffin,alsoatthescene,toldSheriffs’
Investigators that he had spoken to Loehmann within a week of the incident, and that
Loehmann was still emotional about the shooting. Officer Loehmann told him that “the
suspectpulleduphissweatshirtandthenpulledagunoutofhiswaistbandandthathesaw
theguninthesuspect’shandanditreallylookedbig.”
GarmbackalsospokewithGriffinduringtheweekfollowingtheincident.According
toGriffin,Garmbackstatedthat“thattheypulledupsawasuspectfurtheringthedescription
andthoughthemightrun,astheypulledupthesuspectstartedtowalktowardthemandhe
attemptedtostopbutcouldnotandsliduptothegazebo.Ashewalkedup[thesuspect]
pulled up his shirt and drew a gun from his waistband.” Officer Garmback also stated to
OfficerGriffinthatheaswellasOfficerLoehmannwereyellingcommands“to“putupyour
hands”astheyslid.
iv.
IndependentevidenceshowsthatthroughoutthedayonNovember
22,2014,Tamirwaspullingtheguninandoutofhiswaistband.
A great deal of independent evidence indicates that Tamir kept the gun in his
waistbandthroughoutthedayonNovember22,2014.Minutesbeforehisencounterwith
officers,the911callerdescribedseveraltimesseeingTamir“kee[p]pulling[thegun]inand
outofhispants.”Likewise,Witness#4,ayoungfriendofTamir,saidthatonthedayofthe
incident, Tamir would pull the gun in and out of his pants “like robbers do.” Likewise,
Witness#3,anotheryoungfriendofTamir,saidTamirkepthisguninsidehiswaistband
9TheRicefamilyplaintiffs’lawyers,throughtheirpoliceprocedureexperts,suggestthatLoehmann’s
employment history shows that his statements are unworthy of belief. This ignores the fact that
GarmbackalsosaidhesawTamirpullingwhathethoughtwasagunoutofhiswaist.Asshownabove,
however, Loehmann’s statement is strongly supported by independent evidence and it is
unnecessarytorelyuponhiscredibilitytodeterminewhetherhisstatementtoOfficerCunningham
wastruthful.
61
withthebarrelpointingdownwardandthatTamirhadtoliftuphisjackettopullitoutwhen
hewaswithhim.
Inhisanalysisofthevideo,FredericksidentifiedadditionalinstanceswhereTamir
couldbeseenperformingsimilarmovements.Inslide465‐68ofFrederick’sfourthvideo,
bearingtimestamps15:08:45to15:08:47,Fredericksmagnifiedaviewfromcamera#4:
62
In slide 153‐160 of Frederick’s fifth video, bearing timestamps 15:13:05 to 15:13:09, he
identifiedanothersimilarmovementbyTamir,inwhichTamircanclearlybeseenremoving
thegunfromhiswaistandpointingit:
63
Itshouldbenotedthatduringtheprecedingslides,the911callerwaspresentandsittingat
theGazebo.
FredericksalsonotedathirdinstanceofsimilarmovementbyRice,againwithinview
ofthe911caller.Betweenslides698and710ofFredericks’fifthvideo,betweentimestamps
15:17:49and15:17:52,hedocumentedthefollowingmovementbyTamir:
64
(Slide698)
(Slides703‐705)
(Slide710).
As shown above, both officers’ statements are largely corroborated by Fredericks’
forensicvideoanalysis,independentwitnesses,andphysicalevidence.Theonlyremaining
question is to what extent Tamir could have heard the officers’ commands. It is unclear
whether the officers initially gave the commands from inside a closed vehicle. In his
statement,Garmbackstatedthathe“believe[d]thecruiserwindowswereupatthetimeof
these events” but was “not sure.” (Garmback statement, p. 1, ¶ 10). Loehmann, in his
statement,describedgivingcommands:“[a]scarisslid,Istartedtoopenthedoorandyelled
continuously ‘show me your hands’ as loud as I could. The security video shows Officer
Loehmann opening the door approximately one second before shooting Tamir. Officer
65
Garmbackwasalsoyelling“showmeyourhands.”(LoehmannStatement,p.1).InWhite,
theSupremeCourtstatedthatunderGarner,warningsarerequired“whenfeasible.”Statev.
White,142OhioSt.3d277,282‐3,29N.E.3d939,2015‐Ohio‐492,quotingGarner,supra,at
11‐12.ThefactthatTamirmaynothaveheardtheofficers’commandstoshowthemhis
handsdoesnotplacetheincidentoutsideoftheFourthAmendment.
EvenassumingTamircouldnothaveheardLoehmann’swarningsgivenfrominside
the car, Loehmannfelt he had no choice in the instanthe useddeadly force. Garmback’s
approach–skiddingtoahaltdirectlyinfrontofwhereTamirwasstanding–hadlefthim
dangerously exposed to what he believed was a suspect drawing a gun. “The Fourth
Amendmentdoesnotrequirepoliceofficerstowaituntilasuspectshootstoconfirmthata
serious threat of harm exists. * * * Officers need not be absolutely sure [of] the suspect's
intenttocausethemharm‐theConstitutiondoesnotrequirethatcertitudeprecedetheact
of self‐protection.” State v. White, 6th Dist. No. L‐10‐1194, 2013‐Ohio‐51, ¶ 64, quoting
Elliottv.Leavitt,99F.3d640,643‐44(4thCir.1996).
Likewise,thelawrequiresthattheofficer’sactionsbereviewedfromthestandpoint
of“thereasonableofficeronthesceneandnotthroughthelensof20/20hindsight.”Graham
v.Connor,supra,490U.S.at395.ThereisnoevidencetocontradictLoehmann’saccount
thatheshoutedcommandsasheopenedthedooranddrewhisweapononTamir.Although
the time frame from Loehmann exiting the vehicle and firing his weapon on Tamir was
compressed,theevidencedoesnotshowthathisdecisiontoshootwasunreasonable,orthat
itwasfeasibletogivemorecommandsthanhedid.Again,Loehmannwasfacingasuspect
pullinganobjectfromhiswaistthatLoehmannthoughtwasarealgun.Thelawdoesnot
requireanofficertowaituntilbeingfiredupontoconfirmwhetherthegunisrealortogive
thesuspectadditionaltimetoopenfiretodrawandfireupontheofficer.
v.
Tamir’sreplicafirearmwasfunctionallyidenticaltoarealfirearm.
During their investigation, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Investigators purchased a
replicafirearmidenticaltotheoneusedbyTamironNovember22,2014.Theconditionof
Tamir’sreplicafirearmhadchangedsincethetimeofitspurchase,havinghadtheorangetip
and laser sight removed. As depicted in the following advertisement collected by the
Sheriff’sInvestigatorsduringtheirinvestigation,thereplicafirearmcouldbepurchasedfor
$10.97fromalocalWal‐Martstore:
66
“Colt1911TargetPistolwithLaserSight”,availableathttp://www.walmart.com/ip/Colt‐1
911‐Target‐Pistol‐with‐Laser‐Sight/22360212(lastviewedMay25,2015).
As packaged, the replica firearm had a warning on the packaging stating: “Any
alterationastothecolorationand/ormarkingofthisproducttomakethisproductlookmore
likeafirearmisdangerous,maycauseconfusion,maybemistakentobearealfirearmby
lawenforcementofficersorothersandmaybeacrime.Itisdangerousandmaybeacrime
tobrandishordisplaythisproductinpublic”:
Evenwithmagnification,thewarningonthereplicafirearmpackagingwasextremelyhard
to read. Although there is evidence that on the day of the incident, at least two people
warned Tamir about the dangerousness of using the gun in a public place, there is no
evidencethatTamireversawanywarningsfromthegun’spackaging.
Toanuntrainedeye,Tamir’sreplicafirearmandanactual.45ColtM1911(“M1911”)
semi‐automatic pistol are nearly indistinguishable. The following photograph depicts
Tamir’sreplicafirearmsidebysidewiththeactualM1911:
67
Eventoatrainedeye,carefulside‐by‐sidecomparisonisrequiredtonoticethedifferences
betweenTamir’sreplicafirearmandtheactualfirearm.IntheirstatementstotheSheriff’s
Department,DetectiveLentz,aswellasOfficersZverina,Roman,Kitko,andGriffinallstated
thattheysawthegunattheshootingsceneandbelieveditwasarealgun.DetectiveLentz
statedthatitwasn’tuntilheinspectedtheguncloselythatherealizedthatTamir’sgunwas
notarealfirearm.Itisindisputablethatthedifficultydistinguishingbetweenarealandtoy
gunundertherelativelycalmcircumstancesofanofficeorcourtroombecomeafunctional
impossibilityfortheofficerconfrontedwithastressful,dangeroussituationinthefield.
Duringthetense,uncertain,andrapidlyunfoldingmomentsofanactualencounter,
theofficerfacingasuspectcarryingwhatappearstobeagunoftendoesnotknowifitisreal
orfake.Worse,theofficerwillknowthatifheguesseswrong,thatmaybetheendofhislife.
Whenanofficerfacesasuspectdisplayingwhatclearlyappearstobearealfirearm–even
whenthatturnsouttobeamistakenbelief–thelawdoesnotpreventtheofficerfromusing
deadlyforcetodefendhimself,otherofficers,orthepublicfromwhattheofficerbelievesis
asuspectwithadeadlyweapon.“Apoliceofficerneednotwaitforasuspecttoopenfireon
him, much less wait for the suspect to actually hit him, before the officer may fire back.”
Greathousev.Couch,433Fed.Appx.370,373,2011U.S.App.LEXIS15357,*8(6thCir.2011).
Tragically, similar incidents haveoccurred when officers mistook suspects’ replica
firearmsforactualfirearmsandbelievedthesuspectposedanimminentriskofharm.In
another local case, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed the actions of an East
ClevelandPoliceofficerwhoshotateenageboywhiletheboywascarryingaBBgun:
68
InlightofthefactsconfrontingOfficerRodgerswhenheshotJeffreyBell,itisclear
thatOfficerRodgers'actionswerereasonable.OfficerRodgershadbeentoldthata
youngboywascarryingaguninhisfrontpocket.WhenhelocatedJeffreyBelland
determinedthathematchedthedescriptionoftheboycarryingthegun,hestopped
hiscarbehindhim.Hecommandedtheboywiththeguninhisfrontpockettodrop
down. The boy, whose back was to Officer Rodgers, did not follow the commands.
Instead,hepulleduphisshirtwithhislefthand,puthisrighthandinfrontofhisbody
beyond Officer Rodgers' view, and turned toward Officer Rodgers with what
appearedtobeaguninhishand.HewaspointingthegunatOfficerRodgerswhen
OfficerRodgersshothim.WitnesseswhosawthegunonthegroundnearJeffreyBell's
righthandstatedthatitappearedtobereal.
TheplaintiffcontendsthatBellmayhavebeentryingtoshowOfficerRodgersthatthe
gunhewascarryingwasnotreal.However,theissueiswhetherareasonableofficer
inOfficerRodgers'shoeswouldhavefearedforhislife,notwhatwasinthemindof
JeffreyBellwhenheturnedaroundwiththeguninhishand.
Bellv.CityofE.Cleveland,1997U.S.App.LEXIS28738,*8‐9(6thCir.1997).Muchlikethis
case,theofficerinBellhadareportfromacitizencomplaintofasuspectbrandishingagun,
had a specific description of the suspect, and saw the suspect pointing what the officer
believedwasarealgun.Underthosefacts,theSixthCircuitdeterminedthattheofficer’suse
ofdeadlyforcehadbeenreasonable,eventhoughthesuspect’sweaponturnedouttobea
BBgun.Id.
6. Conclusion.
This case is the culmination of a tragic confluence of events. A young boy, who
appearedolderthanhis12years,spenthoursplayingataRecreationCenterwithatoygun
that looked just like the real thing. No one who saw him doing it was willing or able to
intervene and make him stop. Unfortunately, the security cameras that showed him
frightening people with the toy gun were left unmonitored and unseen by any security
officer.ThecallerwhonotifiedpoliceaboutTamirtoldthe911operatorthatTamirmight
havebeenajuvenile,andthatthegunmighthavebeenafake,butthatTamirwas“scaring
theshit”outofhim.
The911operatornevertoldtheDispatcheraboutthepossibilityTamirwasajuvenile
orthatthegunwasatoy,whichledthetworespondingofficerstobelievearealmanwitha
realgunwasthreateninginnocentpeople’slivesatarecreationcenter.Whentheofficers
approachedTamir,heunexpectedlymovedintheirdirectionandbeganpullingoutthegun
fromhiswaistband.Theofficers,whohadnoideathatthegunwasfakeorthatTamirwas
only12,thoughthewasgoingtopullthegunoutatthem.
InDavenportv.Causey,521F.3d544,552(6thCir.2008),theSixthCircuitexplained
that“[t]heofficermustalsobegivensomeleewaywhenacourtanalyzesthereasonableness
ofhisdecision.Itisfirstlyimportanttorememberwhatisa‘reasonable’beliefcouldalsobe
a mistaken belief, and that the fact it turned out to be mistaken does not undermine its
reasonablenessasconsideredatthetimeoftheacts.”Here,OfficerLoehmannandOfficer
Garmbackweretragicallymistakenaboutthekeyfactsofthiscase.Theydidnotknowuntil
itwastoolatethatTamirwasnotarealthreattotheirsafetyortothepublic’ssafety.But
69
thelawrequiresthattheybejudgedaccordingtowhattheyknewatthetime,andwhether
theiractionsbaseduponwhattheyknewwerereasonableundertheFourthAmendment.
We have recommended against bringing any criminal charges to the Grand Jury
becausewedonotbelievethatanyreasonablejudgeorjurywouldfindcriminalconductin
OfficerLoehmann’sreactiontoasuspectpullingwhathethoughtwasagun.Norhasany
viabletheoryofcriminalconductbeenofferedtoexplainwhyOfficerGarmbackwouldbe
criminallyliableforOfficerLoehmann’suseofdeadlyforce.Wearemindfuloftheprofound
impactthatanypoliceuseofdeadlyforcehasonthecommunity,andweareacutelyaware
ofthepainandsufferingexperiencedbythefamilyofa12year‐oldboywhoselifewasso
abruptlyended.Butjusticerequiresathoroughandevenhandedexaminationfactsandlaw.
Inthiscase,thereisnobasistochargeacriminaloffense.
Respectfullysubmitted,
TimothyJ.McGinty
CuyahogaCountyProsecutingAttorney
________________________
________________________
MatthewE.Meyer JamesA.Gutierrez
AssistantProsecutingAttorney
AssistantProsecutingAttorney
70

prosecutor`s report - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

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