Ohio campus cop indicted on murder charge in traffic stop shooting
CINCINNATI (KTVU AND WIRES) - A University of Cincinnati police officer is facing murder and voluntary manslaughter charges for the July 19th shooting an unarmed man during a traffic stop.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced the grand jury indictment Wednesday and released video from the officer's body camera which shows UC Police Officer Raymond Tensing, 25, pulling over the car's driver Samuel DuBose, 43, for a missing front license plate, which is required by Ohio law.
Tensing activated his body camera about 6:30 p.m. and the prosecutor released about 26 minutes of the footage which includes the moment the officer fired his gun.
Deters said at the news conference Wednesday that the officer "purposely killed him" and "should never have been a police officer."
"I've been doing this 30 years. This is the most asinine act I've ever seen a police officer make. Totally unwarranted," Deters said.
During the traffic stop, Tensing and DuBose both speak in calm tones. Tensing spots a bottle in the car and DuBose hands him a gin bottle filled with liquid.
Tensing repeatedly asks DuBose for his driver's license. DuBose says he doesn't have it but that the officer can run his name to check it.
The video shows Tensing asking DuBose to unbuckle his seatbelt and as the officer tries to open the car door, DuBose appears to start the ignition. The video shows the officer reaching inside with his left hand and raising his gun with the right hand. Tensing fires one shot hitting DuBose in the head.
DuBose's sister Terina Allen spoke at the news conference Wednesday saying, "He didn't have a gun, he didn't do anything to that officer. No one deserves this. So I'm angry but I'm pleased as I can be that we are going to get some kind of justice for Sam."
Tensing surrendered to authorities at the Hamilton County Justice Center after the grand jury indictment was announced.
Tensing's initial report stated that he had been dragged by the car and was forced to shoot DuBose.
The video released Wednesday, however, shows Tensing beside the vehicle and later running behind the car as it moves down the street after the shooting. The vehicle comes to a stop on a corner. Tensing approaches the car and then tells another officer that he had been in danger.
"I thought he was going to run me over," Tensing says on the video.
Deters dismissed Tensing's claim and suggested that he shouldn't have pulled DuBose over to begin with.
"He fell backward after he shot (DuBose) in the head," Deters said, adding that it was a "chicken crap" traffic stop.
This is the first time in Cincinnati that a local law enforcement officer has been charged with murder.
"The more cameras you have the better off you are," said Oakland defense attorney John Burris, who handled the police shooting of Oscar Grant. He says it's yet another example of how video can help expose potential officer misconduct.
"There's always been a lot of police shootings. Always. But rarely have the officers been prosecuted even though the conduct was unjustified because there wasn't a third eye if you will," Burris told KTVU.
Tensing's attorney, Stewart Mathews, didn't return phone messages seeking comment after the indictment announcement. Mathews said earlier Wednesday that he thought an indictment was likely "given the political climate" and comments made by city officials. But Mathews said given the evidence he's seen, he doesn't believe there should be an indictment.
DuBose's death comes amid months of national scrutiny of police dealings with African-Americans, especially those killed by officers. DuBose was black. Tensing is white. Authorities haven't indicated whether race was a part of the investigation.
Mark O'Mara, attorney for DuBose's family, called for a "peaceful and nonaggressive" response from the community after the officer's indictment. O'Mara said the family wanted a peaceful reaction because "Sam was a peaceful person."
DuBose's family had been pressing for the release of the police body camera video, and news organizations including The Associated Press had sued Deters to get it released under Ohio open records law, but Deters released it before any ruling had been made.
The prosecutor also said he thought it was time to reconsider the UC police department's role.
"I don't think a university should be in the policing business," Deters said.
"There is going to be an independent investigation, review of the UC police department," said Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley.
The UC officer made the traffic stop near the university's main campus, and UC police have said the intersection was within the campus police's jurisdiction. The University of Cincinnati on Wednesday closed its main campus in anticipation of grand jury action in the case.
Tensing has more than five years of experience in law enforcement and has worked as a University of Cincinnati police officer since April 2014, said Jason Goodrich, UC police chief.
His annual performance review this April noted that he was extremely strong in the traffic area and maintains control of his weapons and of "situations he is involved in." Tensing formerly worked as an officer in the small Cincinnati suburban village of Greenhills.
Deters said when he saw the video of the shooting, he was shocked.
"I feel so sorry for this family and what they lost," Deters said. "And I feel sorry for the community, too."
If convicted, Tensing could face up to life in prison.