This is some scary shit. To think that this officer thinks he is justified in shooting someone in the back.
The officer is on trial for Felonious Assault which carries a maximum 11 year sentence.
News Report:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7433661
Raw footage from patrol car:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/video?id=7433924
Update: THE JURY FOUND OFFICER WHITE GUILTY OF FELONIOUS ASSAULT
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7441887
TOLEDO, OH (WTVG) -- After several hours of deliberating, the jury has found Officer White guilty of felonious assault with a gun specification. He could face up to 11 years.
At around 8 pm on Friday, 13abc learned White was found guilty. That morning, the prosecutor and defense attorney gave closing arguments. Prosecutors say Officer Thomas White failed to protect and serve when he shot Michael McCloskey Junior in the back and paralyzed him. The jury had to decide if Officer White was justified in the shooting.
The defense argued Officer White believed McCloskey had a gun and feared for his life. Prosecutor Jeff Lingo says, "Officer White rushed to judgment, shot, critically injured, permanently disabled McCloskey for traffic violations."
White's attorney Jerome Phillips says, "You don't get a time out and go and tap the individual on the shoulder and say before we enter the next phase, the dangerous phase, where I'm going to have my gun out, and let's talk about this and see what's going on."
