The three detectives were suspended without pay and arraigned in Queens Supreme Court before Judge Randal Eng. The detectives pleaded not guilty to each count through their prospective attorneys. Oliver and Isnora were released on $2,500 insurance company bond or $1,000 cash bail – Cooper was released on his own recognizance.
The so-called “Secret” Grand Jury seated at Queens County ignored murder charges.
Today three of the five undercover officers who discharged their pistols on the morning of November 25, 2006, at 4:15 A.M. into the vehicle of Sean Bell, 23, causing his death, were officially indicted and charged. The “news” had already been leaked Friday to white media outlets.
Two of the officers who discharged their pistols were not charged after testifying. None of the detectives were charged with murder for causing the death of Bell.
The indictments read by Queen District Attorney Robert Brown revealed Detective Michael Oliver (fired 31 times, murdering Sean Bell) and Detective Gescard Isnora (fired 11 times, was the first to discharge his pistol) are being charged with manslaughter in the first and second degree, assault, and reckless endangerment.
If convicted, they could be facing 25-years in prison. Detective Marc Cooper (fired 4 times) faces two counts of reckless endangerment and it was one of his bullets that went through a JFK air train window approximately 80 feet above ground level. Detective Paul Headley (fired 1 time) and Officer Mike Carey (fired 3 times) were not charged, however, their firearms were taken away and they were placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the case.
The three detectives were suspended without pay and arraigned in Queens Supreme Court before Judge Randal Eng. The detectives pleaded not guilty to each count through their prospective attorneys. Oliver and Isnora were released on $250,000 insurance company bond or $1000,000 cash bail – Cooper was released on his own recognizance. The case will resume April 11th before Judge Arthur Cooperman in Queens and expected to last at lease 12 months.
Columnist’s note: If you tuned in to Black talk radio WLIB 1190 AM with Imhotep Gary Byrd’s, “Mind flight,” which once aired Monday thru Thursday mornings from 12:00 A.M. to 5:00 A.M., and are like most of us – ‘tired of being dumbed-down because of a lack of news and information in your community and around the city.’ Tell WLIB management, “I want to listen to the old Black talk radio program listed above. One day is a disservice to our communities,” contact: Deon Levingston, Vice President and General Manager, WLIB Radio, 3 Park Avenue, New York New York 10016; telephone – 212-592-0426. Send me your response and any reply and I will print it in this column. Let’s stay informed.
Watch Manhattan cable channel 34 or www.mnn.org channel 34 every Sunday at 7:30 P.M. for news updates and other articles. You have any comments contact Winkfield for his consideration regarding covering your own story. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]; call (212) 481-7745. Write to: On The Spot, Post Office Box 230149, Queens County 11423. Together we can get the justice everyone just talks about.
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