Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 31, 2006 14:33:31 GMT -5
08.31.2006 - LAWRENCEVILLE - A veteran Gwinnett County police officer has lost his job but not his freedom after fatally shooting an unarmed man.
A Gwinnett grand jury Wednesday chose not to indict Officer George Gilson, a former Gwinnett County Police Department sergeant, on criminal charges in the shooting death of a drunken driver during a low-speed police chase June 10.
Gilson was one of the last of five witnesses to testify in a closed grand jury hearing, which lasted about four hours, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Phil Wiley. A 19-member citizen panel deliberated for about 10 minutes before reaching the decision, Wiley said.
"Our position on the whole thing was to give the grand jury all the facts as we knew them and let them make the decision," Wiley said. "Certainly if they have a problem returning a true bill of indictment, we would have a big problem trying to prove him guilty in a jury trial."
There was mixed reaction from friends of Gilson and the victim, 41-year-old Jeffrey Cantrell, after the decision was announced.
A friend of Gilson's, Kyle Eckman of Lawrenceville, said she supported Gilson even though he violated departmental policy by shooting at a moving vehicle.
"If he had not done what he had done, who might have been hurt or killed?" Eckman said. "You don't know how you're going to react in that situation until you have a split-second decision to make. These officers need to be thanked for what they're doing, not terminated for doing their job."
Gilson resigned earlier this month after an internal investigation by Gwinnett police was completed. Officials recommended that Gilson be fired.
Evidence showed Cantrell was shot after he refused to stop a box truck he was driving while intoxicated. Earlier that evening, Cantrell had borrowed his employer's box truck without permission. He later reportedly telephoned the employer's son and asked to be picked up at a gas station because he was too drunk to drive.
Cantrell failed to show up after 30 minutes, so the employer's son called police and reported the vehicle stolen. The truck was then spotted by police officers who were en route to the gas station.
Officers attempted to pull over the truck, but Cantrell reportedly refused to stop. Officers were chasing him on Hamilton Mill Road when the truck swerved in what police believe was an attempt to strike one of the patrol cars.
Gilson opened fire, killing Cantrell.
Some friends of Cantrell thought Gilson should be prosecuted for shooting an unarmed man. Christina Judd, who became a close friend of Cantrell when he sought help battling alcoholism 13 years ago, described him as a laid-back man with a gentle demeanor.
"They know (Gilson) was wrong, that's why they fired him," Cantrell said, her voice straining with emotion. "Just because Jeff was drinking and driving doesn't mean any police officer has the right to kill the man. There's plenty of people sitting in jail for much worse things that are alive."
The grand jury's decision means Gilson is free to seek employment elsewhere as a police officer, since his certification through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council will remain intact, Wiley said. Prior to his resignation, Gilson had been employed by Gwinnett County for 20 years, where he maintained a spotless record.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_article_id=18888&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2
A Gwinnett grand jury Wednesday chose not to indict Officer George Gilson, a former Gwinnett County Police Department sergeant, on criminal charges in the shooting death of a drunken driver during a low-speed police chase June 10.
Gilson was one of the last of five witnesses to testify in a closed grand jury hearing, which lasted about four hours, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Phil Wiley. A 19-member citizen panel deliberated for about 10 minutes before reaching the decision, Wiley said.
"Our position on the whole thing was to give the grand jury all the facts as we knew them and let them make the decision," Wiley said. "Certainly if they have a problem returning a true bill of indictment, we would have a big problem trying to prove him guilty in a jury trial."
There was mixed reaction from friends of Gilson and the victim, 41-year-old Jeffrey Cantrell, after the decision was announced.
A friend of Gilson's, Kyle Eckman of Lawrenceville, said she supported Gilson even though he violated departmental policy by shooting at a moving vehicle.
"If he had not done what he had done, who might have been hurt or killed?" Eckman said. "You don't know how you're going to react in that situation until you have a split-second decision to make. These officers need to be thanked for what they're doing, not terminated for doing their job."
Gilson resigned earlier this month after an internal investigation by Gwinnett police was completed. Officials recommended that Gilson be fired.
Evidence showed Cantrell was shot after he refused to stop a box truck he was driving while intoxicated. Earlier that evening, Cantrell had borrowed his employer's box truck without permission. He later reportedly telephoned the employer's son and asked to be picked up at a gas station because he was too drunk to drive.
Cantrell failed to show up after 30 minutes, so the employer's son called police and reported the vehicle stolen. The truck was then spotted by police officers who were en route to the gas station.
Officers attempted to pull over the truck, but Cantrell reportedly refused to stop. Officers were chasing him on Hamilton Mill Road when the truck swerved in what police believe was an attempt to strike one of the patrol cars.
Gilson opened fire, killing Cantrell.
Some friends of Cantrell thought Gilson should be prosecuted for shooting an unarmed man. Christina Judd, who became a close friend of Cantrell when he sought help battling alcoholism 13 years ago, described him as a laid-back man with a gentle demeanor.
"They know (Gilson) was wrong, that's why they fired him," Cantrell said, her voice straining with emotion. "Just because Jeff was drinking and driving doesn't mean any police officer has the right to kill the man. There's plenty of people sitting in jail for much worse things that are alive."
The grand jury's decision means Gilson is free to seek employment elsewhere as a police officer, since his certification through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council will remain intact, Wiley said. Prior to his resignation, Gilson had been employed by Gwinnett County for 20 years, where he maintained a spotless record.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_article_id=18888&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2