Deputy orders man to ground, then kills him

12-12-2003, 10:56 PM

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...12columbus.html

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Asked to explain how an unarmed man was fatally shot in the head by a Muscogee County deputy, Sheriff Ralph Johnson said: "This one turned out bad. I can't sugar-coat that."

Kenneth Brown Walker, 39, of Columbus was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. Thursday after he was pulled out of his vehicle on Interstate 185, ordered to the ground and shot. Authorities said Walker failed to comply with the deputy's commands to show his hands after he had been ordered to lay down on the ground.

Walker and three other men were riding in a gray GMC Yukon that authorities believed was seen leaving an apartment complex under surveillance for drug activity.

However, the three men with Walker were not arrested and were released and Johnson acknowledged there was no information that Walker was involved in any criminal activity.

Johnson was flanked by Columbus City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay and other sheriff's officials during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Johnson called the incident "a tragic day for the family of the deceased and for my office and for the city of Columbus."

The deputy who shot Walker has been placed on administrative leave. Authorities say he is a veteran deputy who works with the department's Special Response Team. His name was not released.

When the vehicle was stopped around 9 p.m. Wednesday night on Interstate 185, Johnson said all four occupants were taken out of the vehicle.

Though Walker's friends complied with the deputy's commands to get down on the ground and reveal their hands, there was "some resistance by Walker," Johnson said.

"He was placed on the ground but his right hand couldn't be seen," Johnson said. "That hand wouldn't come out."

When asked if he thought the shooting was justified, Johnson said, "What I can tell you is that when (the deputy) shot him, he did not try to shoot him in the head. I can't tell you what was in his head other than that it's a pure judgment call if he felt like his life was in danger."

No gun was found inside the Yukon.

Johnson said he had met with Walker's family.

"They're very upset and they should be," he said. "I'm very upset and nothing I can say or do will change any of this."

oneastrix · 12-12-2003, 11:28 PM

I want to know more.

12-13-2003, 08:55 AM

I was trying to find out more and stumbled across this interesting site http://www.govsux.com/above_the_law.htm

12-13-2003, 08:58 AM

KITSAP COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Ex-deputy pleads guilty to child molestation charge

• Michael Kleinfelder will have to register as a sex offender but might avoid jail.

Derek Sheppard
Sun Staff

December 2, 2003

Former Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Kleinfelder pleaded guilty Monday to one count of third-degree child molestation -- a felony -- for having sex with his 13-year-old baby-sitter three years ago.
Kleinfelder will have to register as a sex offender and could get six to 12 months in jail or on electronic home surveillance, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Drury said.

Kleinfelder will be sentenced Jan. 9.

The baby-sitter's family said they were glad to have the incident behind them, but were upset that Kleinfelder might not go to jail for the crime.

"If this would have been a school teacher or a basketball coach, he (Kleinfelder) would have been in jail by now," the victim's father said.

Family members' names are being withheld by The Sun to protect the victim's identity.

Kleinfelder resigned last week. He has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 13.

A deadlocked jury was unable to convict or acquit the former deputy in his first trial in July. He originally was charged with six counts of child molestation and could have gotten 20 years in prison if convicted.

Drury and Cliff Morey, Kleinfelder's attorney, called Monday's decision a compromise.

Drury said he did not feel he could take the chance trying the former deputy again, knowing that a possibility existed that he could walk free.

"I don't think anybody's necessarily happy with the way it's turned out," he said.

He said the bottom line was that he wanted to guarantee one felony child molestation conviction.

Morey said the deputy still maintains he is innocent, but the defense had to consider the risk of going to trial again. He said he has recommended that Kleinfelder be sentenced to six to 12 months of electronic home surveillance instead of jail time.

Kleinfelder submitted his resignation Wednesday, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Scott Wilson.

Following Monday's plea bargain, the victim's parents said they had felt left in the dark during the plea bargaining meetings because they didn't know that the deputy could avoid jail time or that he had resigned.

The girl's parents said they worry that Kleinfelder will molest again in the future, and urged the judge to sentence the deputy to jail time.

"He's got to learn. He's got to pay," the mother said.

Because Kleinfelder was able to resign and maintains his innocence, the family feels that he is still in control of his image and destiny.

"If he will not admit to doing this, I would have rather seen a jury convict him," the father said. "We're tired of Mike (Kleinfelder) being the victim."

The girl's parents said they feel that Kleinfelder should be held to a higher standard because of his status as an authority figure.

They said he became like a big brother to the girl and gained the family's trust because he was a deputy.

During his relationship with the girl, her parents said she was acting strangely but thought it was teenage angst.

"If you can't trust a cop, who can you trust?" the mother said.

The parents said their ability to trust authority figures has been forever changed and will take time to repair.

"That was the one time we let our guard down," the mother said. "Let me tell you, we'll never do it again."

While the plea bargain wasn't what the family wanted, they admit that Monday's outcome has begun to bring some closure to the event and they urge any victims of sexual abuse to report the crime.

"Her chin came up, and off she went," the father said, referring to his daughter's reaction after the hearing. "We've got our daughter back."

"She's a very strong girl," the mother said.

Sniper[MI] · 12-13-2003, 09:15 AM

But a lot of total anti gun/anti cop bullshit, dead links and untrue headlines.

There are stories in there that are so subjective, against the police, that they almost could not be considered news, but editorial.

Lots off "poor victims that wasnt doin nuffin wrong" in those artciles.

Whinning that cops maced a guy that ran at them with a screwdriver....

or a naked guy whacked up on mushrooms that charged cops with a knife and the article blames cops for shooting the guy....

or our recent big fatfriend that died while fighting with police while the guy was whacked up on drugs and he had conjenital heart problems brought on by his owmn morbid obesity.....

or the poor guy that was killed as a result of his injuries from a high speed chase,when he ran from police when they went to pull him over for a license plate, and the now dead guy has a rap sheet a mile long for cocaine, armed robbery with injuries, and a host of other felonies, but the cops were wriong for chasing him and they caused his death for nothing as he was a good boy.And a mini race riot that broke out at the scene, salted with the cops did not do anything to save the poor victim, and they even say the ambulance crews deliberately took too long to get there!

All anti cop, anti govt,anti power bullshit, mixed in with a few sorted articles of corruption.

Interesting to say the least.

12-13-2003, 09:46 AM

cops can be monsters too

Rooster · 12-13-2003, 10:47 AM

Just like the public at large. What would happen if the liberals were in charge and all the police were fired and went home. Where would we be then? You may have to stay home to protect the Ponderosa from Jake the Snake sneaking around.

Its always someone else's fault not mine.

12-13-2003, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rooster
Just like the public at large. What would happen if the liberals were in charge and all the police were fired and went home. Where would we be then? You may have to stay home to protect the Ponderosa from Jake the Snake sneaking around.

Its always someone else's fault not mine.

they're never around when I need them anyway

lefty o · 12-13-2003, 01:09 PM

the cop that shot the man in the head while he was sprawled out on the ground should be locked up till his murder trial. i have no problem with a cop shooting when his life is in danger. but if the man was laying out on the ground most likely he was shot in the back of the head.

12-13-2003, 01:10 PM

like an execution shot

12-13-2003, 01:21 PM

innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

12-13-2003, 02:18 PM

guilty until proven innocent in a court of public opinion

12-12-2003, 10:56 PM	#1
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	Deputy orders man to ground, then kills him http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...12columbus.html Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Asked to explain how an unarmed man was fatally shot in the head by a Muscogee County deputy, Sheriff Ralph Johnson said: "This one turned out bad. I can't sugar-coat that." Kenneth Brown Walker, 39, of Columbus was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. Thursday after he was pulled out of his vehicle on Interstate 185, ordered to the ground and shot. Authorities said Walker failed to comply with the deputy's commands to show his hands after he had been ordered to lay down on the ground. Walker and three other men were riding in a gray GMC Yukon that authorities believed was seen leaving an apartment complex under surveillance for drug activity. However, the three men with Walker were not arrested and were released and Johnson acknowledged there was no information that Walker was involved in any criminal activity. Johnson was flanked by Columbus City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay and other sheriff's officials during a news conference Thursday afternoon. Johnson called the incident "a tragic day for the family of the deceased and for my office and for the city of Columbus." The deputy who shot Walker has been placed on administrative leave. Authorities say he is a veteran deputy who works with the department's Special Response Team. His name was not released. When the vehicle was stopped around 9 p.m. Wednesday night on Interstate 185, Johnson said all four occupants were taken out of the vehicle. Though Walker's friends complied with the deputy's commands to get down on the ground and reveal their hands, there was "some resistance by Walker," Johnson said. "He was placed on the ground but his right hand couldn't be seen," Johnson said. "That hand wouldn't come out." When asked if he thought the shooting was justified, Johnson said, "What I can tell you is that when (the deputy) shot him, he did not try to shoot him in the head. I can't tell you what was in his head other than that it's a pure judgment call if he felt like his life was in danger." No gun was found inside the Yukon. Johnson said he had met with Walker's family. "They're very upset and they should be," he said. "I'm very upset and nothing I can say or do will change any of this."

12-12-2003, 11:28 PM	#2
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	I want to know more. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

12-13-2003, 09:15 AM	#5
Sniper[MI] Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Future 51st state, "New Hope" Posts: 3,796	Interesting to say the least But a lot of total anti gun/anti cop bullshit, dead links and untrue headlines. There are stories in there that are so subjective, against the police, that they almost could not be considered news, but editorial. Lots off "poor victims that wasnt doin nuffin wrong" in those artciles. Whinning that cops maced a guy that ran at them with a screwdriver.... or a naked guy whacked up on mushrooms that charged cops with a knife and the article blames cops for shooting the guy.... or our recent big fatfriend that died while fighting with police while the guy was whacked up on drugs and he had conjenital heart problems brought on by his owmn morbid obesity..... or the poor guy that was killed as a result of his injuries from a high speed chase,when he ran from police when they went to pull him over for a license plate, and the now dead guy has a rap sheet a mile long for cocaine, armed robbery with injuries, and a host of other felonies, but the cops were wriong for chasing him and they caused his death for nothing as he was a good boy.And a mini race riot that broke out at the scene, salted with the cops did not do anything to save the poor victim, and they even say the ambulance crews deliberately took too long to get there! All anti cop, anti govt,anti power bullshit, mixed in with a few sorted articles of corruption. Interesting to say the least. __________________ FNUH!

12-13-2003, 02:18 PM	#12
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	guilty until proven innocent in a court of public opinion Last edited by Logansdad; 12-13-2003 at 02:24 PM.

12-13-2003, 08:55 AM	#3
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	I was trying to find out more and stumbled across this interesting site http://www.govsux.com/above_the_law.htm

12-13-2003, 08:58 AM	#4
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	KITSAP COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Ex-deputy pleads guilty to child molestation charge • Michael Kleinfelder will have to register as a sex offender but might avoid jail. Derek Sheppard Sun Staff December 2, 2003 Former Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Kleinfelder pleaded guilty Monday to one count of third-degree child molestation -- a felony -- for having sex with his 13-year-old baby-sitter three years ago. Kleinfelder will have to register as a sex offender and could get six to 12 months in jail or on electronic home surveillance, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Drury said. Kleinfelder will be sentenced Jan. 9. The baby-sitter's family said they were glad to have the incident behind them, but were upset that Kleinfelder might not go to jail for the crime. "If this would have been a school teacher or a basketball coach, he (Kleinfelder) would have been in jail by now," the victim's father said. Family members' names are being withheld by The Sun to protect the victim's identity. Kleinfelder resigned last week. He has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 13. A deadlocked jury was unable to convict or acquit the former deputy in his first trial in July. He originally was charged with six counts of child molestation and could have gotten 20 years in prison if convicted. Drury and Cliff Morey, Kleinfelder's attorney, called Monday's decision a compromise. Drury said he did not feel he could take the chance trying the former deputy again, knowing that a possibility existed that he could walk free. "I don't think anybody's necessarily happy with the way it's turned out," he said. He said the bottom line was that he wanted to guarantee one felony child molestation conviction. Morey said the deputy still maintains he is innocent, but the defense had to consider the risk of going to trial again. He said he has recommended that Kleinfelder be sentenced to six to 12 months of electronic home surveillance instead of jail time. Kleinfelder submitted his resignation Wednesday, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Scott Wilson. Following Monday's plea bargain, the victim's parents said they had felt left in the dark during the plea bargaining meetings because they didn't know that the deputy could avoid jail time or that he had resigned. The girl's parents said they worry that Kleinfelder will molest again in the future, and urged the judge to sentence the deputy to jail time. "He's got to learn. He's got to pay," the mother said. Because Kleinfelder was able to resign and maintains his innocence, the family feels that he is still in control of his image and destiny. "If he will not admit to doing this, I would have rather seen a jury convict him," the father said. "We're tired of Mike (Kleinfelder) being the victim." The girl's parents said they feel that Kleinfelder should be held to a higher standard because of his status as an authority figure. They said he became like a big brother to the girl and gained the family's trust because he was a deputy. During his relationship with the girl, her parents said she was acting strangely but thought it was teenage angst. "If you can't trust a cop, who can you trust?" the mother said. The parents said their ability to trust authority figures has been forever changed and will take time to repair. "That was the one time we let our guard down," the mother said. "Let me tell you, we'll never do it again." While the plea bargain wasn't what the family wanted, they admit that Monday's outcome has begun to bring some closure to the event and they urge any victims of sexual abuse to report the crime. "Her chin came up, and off she went," the father said, referring to his daughter's reaction after the hearing. "We've got our daughter back." "She's a very strong girl," the mother said.

12-13-2003, 09:46 AM	#6
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	cops can be monsters too

12-13-2003, 10:47 AM	#7
Rooster Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SW FLA Posts: 186	Just like the public at large. What would happen if the liberals were in charge and all the police were fired and went home. Where would we be then? You may have to stay home to protect the Ponderosa from Jake the Snake sneaking around. Its always someone else's fault not mine.

12-13-2003, 01:09 PM	#9
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,807	the cop that shot the man in the head while he was sprawled out on the ground should be locked up till his murder trial. i have no problem with a cop shooting when his life is in danger. but if the man was laying out on the ground most likely he was shot in the back of the head.

12-13-2003, 01:10 PM	#10
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	like an execution shot

12-13-2003, 01:21 PM	#11
Lenny2 Guest Posts: n/a	innocent until proven guilty in a court of law