A panel of five Washington state prosecutors determined that the deadly cops shot that killed Jenoah Donald during a traffic stop was lawful, and the officer would face no criminal charges as a result.
They all came to the conclusion that no criminal charges should be made, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan stated, adding that Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputy Sean Boyle behaved “in good faith.”
Donald’s resistance to evacuate the car swiftly deteriorated, and Deputy Boyle pulled his handgun and shot Mr. Donald to defend himself and other officers, they stated.
Deputies arrived to the 6500-block of Northwest Jordan Way at 7:37 p.m. on February 4 after receiving a tip regarding two suspicious cars circling the area.
The 911 caller “voiced displeasure with the “drug home” and the “continuous onslaught of difficulties hurting the community.”
On 68th Street, Deputy Boyle observed a bronze Mercedes Benz with Oregon license plates and a broken taillight and pulled over.
The motorist, eventually recognized as Donald, 30, offered the officer his Washington identity card but no verification of registration or insurance.
According to the affidavit for a search warrant, Donald informed Deputy Boyle that his license had been suspended.
Deputy Holly Troupe of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the incident and waited outside Donald’s passenger door to protect Deputy Boyle as he returned to his car.
Deputy Troupe told authorities that there were some unusual objects inside the car, including a “ball-handled” device with a 3- to 4-inch sharpened “stake” on the end near the center console.
Deputy Troupe testified that she told Donald to keep his hands visible many times, but he disobeyed her and went behind his back to bring out a mobile phone and pliers, and Deputy Boyle witnessed the incident escalate just as Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Agar arrived on the scene.
According to authorities, Deputy Boyle returned to the Mercedes, unlocked the vehicle door, and told Donald to get out. Deputy Boyle and Deputy Troupe attempted to remove him out of the car when he refused to cooperate.
He refused to obey despite being threatened with a police dog.
Deputy Boyle, as a ploy, instructed Jenoah Donald that if he would not cease resisting, he would dispatch his K-9 to bite Jenoah Donald, according to the search warrant affidavit. This did not result in cooperation, and Jenoah Donald struggled with Deputy Boyle and Troupe.
Deputy Troupe tried to induce ‘pain compliance,’ by exerting finger pressure beneath Donald’s jaw, but this did not appear to work.
Deputy Boyle told investigators that before being pushed into the car, Donald pulled on his outer ballistic vest. He hit Donald in the nose after telling him to let him go.
During the battle, the deputies said they heard Donald start the car’s engine, and Deputy Boyle said he kept struggling to get free while the officers heard Donald crank the engine and “wheels spinning.”
Deputy Boyle felt the car continue to move forward, and fearing for his life, he pulled his weapon (Deputy Boyle is left-handed) and issued Mr. Donald a verbal instruction to halt or he would be shot, according to the investigators’ narrative.
Deputy Boyle fired two rounds, one of which hit Donald.
Deputy Boyle then threw himself out of the speeding automobile, which proceeded until it collided with a fence in an adjacent yard.
Three deputies ran to the truck and dragged Donald out to provide first aid.
He was taken to the hospital and died a week later after his family pulled him from life support.
The cop should be arrested and held responsible, said Lara Herrmann, a lawyer for Donald’s family, soon after the incident.
Another family lawyer, Mark Lindquist, termed the event an awful cautionary tale about what occurs when cops do not exercise de-escalation. Lethal force should only be used as a last option. Both legally and ethically. Three strategically trained cops were on the spot, fully equipped. Tasers, pepper spray, and other non-lethal weapons are available. There was no justification for shooting Jenoah in the head.
Donald’s mom, Sue Zawacky, stated in a statement that the prosecution let her family down.
She asked that Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson launch an inquiry into the event, but his office said he lacked the authority to do so.
They hope the police would quit for the sake of the community since they lack the patience and abilities required for the position, Zawacky added.
Lindquist indicated that the $17 million wrongful death case he is launching against Clark County on behalf of Donald’s family will result in “responsibility and justice.” What is obvious is that the cops inappropriately turned a minor traffic stop into a deadly shooting, he added.
Share this with your friends by clicking below!
