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Suspected Cop Killer Found Dead in Jail Cell, Its Ruled a Homicide
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by ABC2 News | July 1, 2008 at 04:43 am
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Suspected Cop Killer Found Dead in Jail Cell, Its Ruled a Homicide
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County officials say the death of a 19-year-old found slumped in his jail cell a day after his arrest for running over and killing a Prince George's County police officer has been ruled a homicide.
The Maryland Medical Examiner ruled Monday that Ronnie White died from asphyxiation and strangulation. Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson says, "If we have vigilante justice, our society will fall apart."
Officials say seven guards had access to White at the time of his death, as well as an unspecified number of supervisors. Authorities are also investigating whether anyone from the outside had access to the prisoner.
Maryland State Police and the FBI are investigating the death. Johnson said that he believes the death was "unrelated to any act by the Prince George's County Police Department.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (30)
at 04:56 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 05:30 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:26 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:49 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff. Apparently this is not the first vigilante accidental death of a prisoner in custody.
at 08:26 on July 1st, 2008
You know, one thing I notice in many posts, is the lack of info, cause and effect. I have just watched a spokesperson rant his frustration to the media of the death of a 19-year old child, I say a child, because as a parent they are our child. This man's rants, and I say rants and finger pointing (at everyone) confidently, because tragic as this situation may be, society as a whole is also responsible for this young teens murder. I am sure his parents, though trying as it may raising a teen, bear a small responsibility. The person(s) responsible for this young teens murder bear the responsibility of ending his life sooner, rather than later. The "laws of probability" in this repeat offender teen being killed at a later date are pretty conclusive and rather obvious.
Society bears 99% of this teens demise in that this Teen is a multiple offender. Society and the Courts somehow feel no responsibility in their "UTTER AND COMPLETE FAILURE" in sending this young teen to prison or young offenders institution on his first offense, perhaps getting him educated, feeling a sense of pride, work program, a trade to make his parents proud? For if they had, and this young teen like many others committing crimes may have had a chance to be rehabilitated instead of being released he would be alive today. But our votes for some reason go by the wayside, especially when it comes to serious time for serious crimes, by what seems to be a overwhelmed court.
Now perhaps rehabilitation may not have worked considering the environment, but a year in productive custody would have been worth a shot, instead of multiple times in front of judge, which clearly shows he had not been rehabilitated, and if he, as it is said killed a police officer, chances are later it would most likely would have been someone else, either an innocent victim, or including someone else's criminally like minded child. Perhaps this teens death spared some family the grief of those he may have killed in the future (because by all accounts, it looked like this teens road most traveled) of burying their child murdered by this teen's hands, by a society and a court system afraid to put the hammer of justice down, thus potentially saving the police officers life and that of a potential accused murderer, a murderer who killed a teen in custody, and a accused deceased murderer of a police officer.
As the Ranting Man to the media who screamed for justice was pointing to everyone to blame, forgets that when you point a finger at someone, three of those accusing fingers are pointing directly back at you as a society! There are no excuses, just solutions. The Left seem to be full of Kissy Face excuses, the Right seem to get results.
Agree with me or not, that is my observation and opinion of a tragedy that should have been averted in it's early stages.
at 15:16 on July 1st, 2008
But if you put them in jail, then the parents protest and maybe sue. And if they're not Caucasian, then next thing you know there's a protest march alleging racism. etc. etc.
Bottom line: we've given up having community standards in favor of chosen victimhood and a reluctance to face reality and make people accountable. It all began, IMHO, back with "social promotion"--oh, Johnny can't read, spell or do math? Let's not hold him back and hurt his feelings. Instead, Johnny and Janey get catered to, build up frusration, are unemployable, if they even want to work by them, because they've learned; if you *don't* perform according to basic standards, you get rewarded.
at 14:17 on July 1st, 2008
Barry, another way to look at this, rather than stating that the death of this accused man may have saved some life in the future, would be that the police involved in the murder of this accused man are as culpable as was this accused man yet, they, unlike the accused dead man, will receive their day in court, assuming anyone will be charged with the murder of the accused.
Let's see if there is an attempt to claim this man strangled himself, not with a rope by hanging but with his own hands and broke two vertebra in his own neck. Of course, people in police custody often find themselves able to accomplish great feats of the incredibly unbelievable.
I'm sure during the investigation, it will be revealed that everyone in the building in the area and all with access to the dead man's cell were in the bathroom at the time he was murdered.
Like it or not, in this country and its states, cities, counties and municipalities, there have been enacted rules that govern police conduct and the treatment of prisoners in their custody. Killing them while in custody is not acceptable.
at 14:30 on July 1st, 2008
OK, obviously I've been off the computer doing other things, but I'm confused--the reports say ..."no visible signs of trauma on his body," but Karen, you say "two broken vertebra" in his neck?
Has an autopsy report been released?
Someone, update, please!
at 14:37 on July 1st, 2008
Ahhh, earlier on the reports were all the same AP story endlessly repeated by multiple news outlets. But over at USA Today I found something more in depth, which does indeed, indicate broken bones in his neck. It also included this statement from a county official: "Johnson immediately moved to curb speculation that White's death was the result of police officers seeking revenge, saying the slaying was "unrelated to any act" by police."
This case certainly is going to get a great deal of scrutiny.
Note: posting a simple reply seems to take a few cycles through the accusatory spam notice, then it reverts to "don't comment again within 5 seconds" and lather, rinse, repeat. ;}
at 20:33 on July 1st, 2008
The story states two neck vertebra were broken from the coroner, thus concluding as Karen states Murder as it is near impossible to strangle yourself in such a fashion.
at 20:44 on July 1st, 2008
Barry, I wasn't aware that anyone has suggested that he strangled himself. Admittedly I've not been on the 'net that much today--so what did I miss? Yikes!
at 20:46 on July 1st, 2008
No, NO. not you, Karen was sarcastically stating he could not strangle himself :0)
at 08:59 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff. I am not going to blame society for this death. More like the police, whose job it is to investigate and arrest. Police, once they have arrested one, must protect him so he can stand trial. Killing an offeneder is not in their job description.
Now for your comments about society. The problem we have in the USA is this. One who is under 18 is treated with white gloves and the record is sealed. The first offender laws, say, "well you never did anything wrong so let me be easy on you". It should be, "you never did anything wrong in the past, or didn't get caught until now, let me be harsh so you understand the reality of what you have done". If justice is blind, then she cant see the age of the child. Sealing a childs record so it is not available when one is an adult says, " you can do what you want and it won't effect your life".
Kids end up doing criminal acts and get used to the lifestyle and we expect them when they turn 18 to change their lifestyle.
If society has any fought here it is the way we punish children for acts that would put them in prison as adults. The first line is always the parents, but our society wants parents to be responcible when its something the state doesnt want to take responcibility for. Parents have lost their rights to punish their child. Parents are not informed about medical issues, parents are not involved in the education process.
This fight to balance childrens rights with parental rights has changed our society. Crime is up, murders are up, our jails are full.
If someting isn't working, doing the same , expecting differant results, is crazy. It's time to return to SOME of our old values.
at 09:40 on July 1st, 2008
Great Point, and well taken Politisite.
Though not to invalidate this young teens life and his right to a fair trial, innocent until proven guilty. The person who killed this teen is as vicious as they get and deserves the death penalty. My point in given a chance at a good life, he may have turned his life around and been alive today, as it is obvious he learned nothing from his past mistakes in being released as you say as a young offender who committed an adult crime,
at 11:15 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Except that the coverage seems to be slanted toward "of course the cops did it." And I noted this:
"The FBI is focusing on possible civil rights violations."
No matter what happened, maybe it was just a punk and not a civil rights deal? Would "civil rights" be part of the witch hunt if the punk had been Caucasian?
There isn't enough meat on this bone yet. Strangulation? The story, unless I missed it, didn't mention anything about marks on the neck.
Memo: what drugs did the guy have onboard? Could he have gotten some in jail or snuck them in? (Answer to both: yes, in general). If the autopsy comes back showing a high level of drugs, then what? Some drugs do kill--and not immediately.
But right now, the story is: bad cops kill helpless teenager in jail. Or so it seems.
I'd like to know more about the poor little teenager's priors, too. If this story is so public, with civil rights violations being sought, then let's have teh whole darned story.
at 14:44 on July 1st, 2008
Pep noted...
Drugs are everywhere behind bars. Everywhere.
at 15:20 on July 1st, 2008
Yes, drugs are behind bars, too. And as is generally known, gang-ordered killing in prison happen, too.
After doing more research and reading that a corrections officer who broke regulations this spring may have been a gang member, I have many questions about this situation.
at 13:20 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Because my family suffered the wrongful death of a loved one in police custody, still unresolved because of lawyer fraud against my family by The Cochran Firm (which pretended under contract to be our legal agents), I am particularly empathetic to Ronnie White and his family. It is alarming that so many citizens die while incarcerated in our country, including victims like Mr. White and my brother, Larry Neal, who died under mysterious/undisclosed circumstances, denied the opportunity to defend themselves against pending criminal charges. ( See http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com )
Here is more information on Mr. White's case:
White Family Urges Thorough Investigation Attorney Bob Henry issues a statement on behalf of the White family regarding the investigation into Ronnie White's death. ยป LAUNCH VIDEO PLAYER Video avaialble at http://www.washingt onpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/ article/2008/ 07/01/AR20080701 01221.html? hpid=topnews Family of Slain Inmate Calls for Justice Dept. Investigation
By Aaron C. Davis, Debbi Wilgoren and Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 1, 2008; 12:02 PM
A lawyer representing the family of Ronnie L. White, slain in his jail cell after being charged with killing a Prince George's County police officer, called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and said White's death was an ominous indicator of serious misconduct inside the county detention system. "This did not happen on some dark, abandoned, lonely road. This happened in broad daylight, in the custody of county officials," attorney Bobby G. Henry Jr. said at a news conference this morning. "Everyone who has someone or knows someone who is in the county correctional facility should have a problem with that."
Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
at 14:41 on July 1st, 2008
ABC2 News, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:42 on July 1st, 2008
Ronnie White, 19, whose death occurred at the hand or hands of person or persons unknown while in police custody was reported by CNN to have:
".... died of strangulation and asphyxiation and had two broken bones in his neck, an autopsy showed."
at 14:56 on July 1st, 2008
Karen, thanks for adding this; we must have cross-posted. I also found this information, at USA Today (see above.)
Here's something more: ""Certainly there was no cloth, rope or material tied around his neck. There was no cuts on his wrist," said Col. Gregory Harris of the Prince George's County Department of Corrections." ~ABC 7 News.
They also reported: "..... charges of ramming a stolen pickup truck into police Cpl. Richard Findley. Findley had gotten out of his police cruiser Friday while trying to conduct a traffic stop on the truck. White allegedly struck him and dragged him for a short distance in the community of Laurel." ABC 7 News.
White has a history of drug charges.
Cpl. Findley was also a long-time volunteer fireman.
ABC 7 also reported that there is significant Bloods gang involvement in the area. In fact, a correction officer suspected of being a gang member was charged with sneaking cellphones to inmates. (emphasis mine)
So--before the rush to judgment is made, could this have been a gang-ordered killing? That happens.
One thing to consider: people say that there shouldn't be a rush to judgment, including White's alleged ramming, dragging, and killing of Findley. So, isn't it also true there shouldn't be a rush to judgment -- as there has been--accusing police of murder?
There's a very short window of opportunity as far as access to White goes, according to what I've read so far in various accounts. But that window of opportunity could include other inmates, if a corrections officer broke regualtions and allowed that access.
at 21:09 on July 1st, 2008
The CNN article further states that Ronnie White was being held in solitary confinement. Only authorized police personnel or persons allowed into the area by authorized police personnel would have had access to a cell in solitary confinement.
Sgt. Curtis Knowles, president of the county's correctional officers union states, according to this Washingtonpost.com article, that to gain entry into the unit where Ronnie White was held:
.... officers would probably have had to swipe a computerized ID card to enter the unit that housed White's cell. A log of which cards were swiped, and when, to enter the area should be available .....
at 15:14 on July 1st, 2008
A bit more information and a photo of the key officials involved are here.
Other questions to be answered: what training and background investigations are required for corrections officers? I ask that because in my area, a corrections officer is not a full police officer. Some corrections officers, if they do a good job, pass background investigations, and pass the criteria, do later move on to police training.
I find it curious that somehow, a corrections officer, in that earlier case I cited, above, may have been a gang member. How does that happen? I'd like to see more information on that case, and the verification, if any of that guard's involvement in gangs.
Ya'll will just have to forgive me here for not joining the "oh, the cops are killers" rush, but there are things I think could be looked at in an analytical manner. Is there gang involvement by any guards? etc. etc. Many, many questions here. And, what was in that stolen truck White allegedly was driving?
White has priors on drugs, the reports say. A stolen vehicle rap isn't that big of a thing--but he allegedly deliberately rammed a police officer, then dragged him. So--why? What was in that truck?
If there was a major drugs shipment involved, someone very easily could have wanted White dead before he rolled over and gave up info about drug dealers or shipments. I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's something that should be considered as well. If a guard gets caught bringing cellphones in, he/she just might let one prisoner visit another--and especially if the one being visited (White) knew the visitor and wanted to see him.
Lots of possibilities here. And every possibility should be looked at. And all of 'em lead to bigger questions, IMHO.
(I loves me the spam filter. I see spam in comments frequently, but known cotnributors get red-flagged. OK, let me type more stuff in now.)
at 15:26 on July 1st, 2008
According to various reports, it seems that there was about 15 minutes, give or take, between the time he was last seen to be okay and when he was found slumped over.
Another question: why did officials state that there were no visible marks on his body? If he was manually strangled, wouldn't there have been bruising?
Very very curious reports coming out, piecemeal, about all this.
at 15:31 on July 1st, 2008
I don't have all my forensics resources right at hand by the computer, so I went quick-searching for strangulation refresher material, and found this as part of a training course on strangulation. Could White have died from earlier injuries?
"It is critical to know that breathing changes may initially appear to be mild, but underlying injuries may kill the victim hours or days later due to decompensation of the injured structures."
at 15:41 on July 1st, 2008
Even more strange: it turns out that cricket coach Bob Woolmer, originally declared a homicide by strangling in Jamaica, most likely died of a heart attack. He had broken bones in his neck, too.
When a thorough autopsy report is revealed, I wonder what, if any, evidence White's eyes will show.
at 16:29 on July 1st, 2008
An FBI investigation into the violation of a victim's civil rights is not based on race and is meant to determine whether the civil rights of the person whose death and the circumstances surrounding the death, in this case, a 19 year old male, who happened to be African American, were violated.
Since Ronnie White was murdered while being housed alone in a cell, in a police facility in solitary confinement, not ever to be allowed his day in court, the case indeed bears investigation.
Again, whatever took place in the facility during the commission of the murder was ultimately under the control of police and individuals and authorites acting on behalf of or in conjunction with those authorites in the facility.
at 17:53 on July 1st, 2008
A newly-published article at the Baltimore Sun says: "....civil rights and political leaders said they were reserving judgment while the Maryland State Police and the FBI investigate." Also, another detail: White had two broken ribs.
at 18:26 on July 1st, 2008
The community should be highly commended for its calm given the article also reveals reports of other disturbing incidents involving police occurring there, dating back to the sixties.
Also from the above linked Baltimore Sun article:
In the 1960s, the county was known for its "death squads," groups of police officers accused of trampling suspects' civil rights. In 1989, the death of a Ghanaian man during an encounter with police rekindled distrust.
More recently, in 2000, a county police officer tailed a Howard University student, whom he mistakenly thought to be a criminal, to Northern Virginia, where he fatally shot the young man.
About that same time, another officer was charged with manslaughter in a teenager's death at a fire hall dance, and two other officers were indicted for their roles in a police dog attack.
at 08:59 on August 8th, 2008
Another incident involving Prince George County law enforcement can be found here.