Grand jury clears officers in killing of off-duty cop

A grand jury has voted not to indict the four Westchester County police officers involved in the fatal shooting of off-duty Mount Vernon officer Christopher Ridley, who was making an arrest on the streets

News 12 Staff

Mar 12, 2008, 9:09 PM

Updated 5,880 days ago

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Grand jury clears officers in killing of off-duty cop
A grand jury has voted not to indict the four Westchester County police officers involved in the fatal shooting of off-duty Mount Vernon officer Christopher Ridley, who was making an arrest on the streets of White Plains in January.
During court proceedings, District Attorney Janet DiFiore and White Plains Public Safety Commissioner Frank Straub described what led to Ridley?s death on Jan. 25. The investigation reveals the entire encounter only lasted a minute and 19 seconds.
They said the 23-year-old Ridley, who was off duty and in plain clothes, encountered a mugging on the streets of White Plains. Ridley then took steps to stop the assault and was mistaken for a criminal during a struggle over his gun.
Witnesses testified the four officers shouted at Ridley to drop his gun, but he did not obey, possibly because he did not hear them. They also said that Ridley never identified himself as a police officer. Ridley was struck six times, apparently from bullets fired by only three of the officers? guns.
Ridley?s mother is angry the four officers will not be charged in connection to his death, saying he was ?executed.? The grand jury did indict Anthony Jacobs, the man allegedly involved in that mugging, for assault. Ridley?s family members are still not satisfied.
Ridley was posthumously promoted to detective. Police group calls for change after Mt. Vernon cop shot Slain Mt. Vernon officer gets posthumous promotion Homeless man that sparked fatal cop shooting indicted


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