Folks,
Got this from a local, thought I'd share it.....scary.
Phil
Police Officer Charged in Motorcyclist's Death
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A police officer in Tennessee has been charged with
vehicular homicide for allegedly killing a motorcyclist by running him off the road
with his patrol car, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
A grand jury in Blount County, Tennessee, on Wednesday indicted Rockford Police
Sgt. James Ray Johnson on the criminal charge. If convicted, the officer could face
three-to-six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Johnson is free on a $25,000 bond pending a Sept. 10 court appearance when
a trial date will be set.
On March 10, Johnson was patrolling old Knoxville Highway in the Rockford area
just south of Knoxville when he got a report from a Blount County deputy sheriff that
a speeding motorcyclist was coming up behind him. Johnson told investigators he turned
on his emergency lights when he saw the motorcycle approaching, hoping to get the
rider to slow down. Instead, Johnson said, the rider lost control of his machine, hit
a guard rail and then slid into the cruiser.
The motorcyclist, Philip Laton, 27, a father of three and a corrections officer
at the Juvenile Detention Center in Knoxville, was killed instantly.
Later, a witness came forward to say that the police car had swerved into path of
the approaching motorcycle, killing Laton. The investigation by the Highway Patrol
included a review of videotape from a camera mounted Johnson's cruiser, which,
investigators said, confirmed the witness' account.
Johnson has been on paid administrative leave since the crash. Meanwhile, a $3
million wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the Blount County Sheriff's
Department and the Rockford Police Department.
The American Motorcyclist Association is a 270,000-member non-profit
organization. Established in 1924, the Association's purpose is to pursue,protect and
promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For
more information, visit the AMA website at
www.AMADirectlink.com.
