St. Louis County officer found not guilty in death of girl

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-fc0959e135b68e68ae8b2c8c4dba7363

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A former St. Louis County officer has been found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the death of a 12-year-old girl who was hit by his patrol car in 2019.

Officer Preston Marquart was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Akeelah Jackson, who was hit by the patrol car as she crossed a street.

Prosecutors argued during a trial on Tuesday that Marquart was driving nearly twice the 30 mph speed limit and did not activate his siren or emergency lights while pursuing a vehicle without license plates.

Circuit Judge Scott Millikan ruled Friday that Marquart’s vehicle accelerated “a matter of seconds” and a short distance before the girl was hit. Millikan said Marquart was relying on his training when he decided not to activate the emergency sirens and lights, KSDK-TV reported. He said Marquardt’s actions that day did not constitute criminal negligence.

[The Magistrate]

1. Training Seems A Consistent Problem

If officers doing what they're trained to do results in outrage, perhaps something is wrong with the training....

He killed a kid over a missing license plate, for fuck's sake.

Of course he did something wrong.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Maybe the department needs more money to improve training.

[The Magistrate]

6. Or Perhaps The Training

Ought to include such things as don't chase a minor violation like a dog after a bouncing tennis ball --- radio ahead or leave it go.

[marble falls]

2. I don't get the willingness to risk lives over property and traffic violations.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Twas ever thus. Protecting and serving!

[70sEraVet]

3. If the officer was not found guilty because he was " relying on his training",

time to sue the county that provided that training. Somebody has to pay for killing that child.