Kentucky’s attorney general acknowledged that he never recommended homicide charges against any of the police officers conducting the drug raid that led to Breonna Taylor’s death, and said he didn’t object to a public release of the grand jury’s deliberations.

Amid outrage over the jury’s decision last week to not charge any of the officers for Taylor’s fatal shooting, Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Monday that he also did not object to members of the panel speaking publicly about their experience. “We have no concerns with grand jurors sharing their thoughts on our presentation because we are confident in the case we presented,” Cameron said in a written statement.

Cameron also revealed late Monday that the only charge he recommended to the grand jury was that of wanton endangerment. He had previously declined to say what charges he recommended.

The grand jury last week charged Officer Brett Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing through Taylor’s apartment into an adjacent unit with people inside. No one in the adjacent unit was injured. Hankison, who was fired from the force for his actions during the raid, pleaded not guilty on Monday.

None of the officers was indicted in the killing of Taylor, who was shot five times after they knocked down her door to serve a narcotics warrant on March 13. In a TV interview Tuesday evening, Cameron also indicated that he had recommended no charges against the other officers, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove.

Speaking to WDRB-TV in Louisville, he remarked of the grand jury, “They’re an independent body. If they wanted to make an assessment about different charges, they could have done that. But our recommendation was that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their acts and their conduct.” At a news conference last week, Cameron said Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in firing their weapons because Taylor’s boyfriend had fired at them first.

Mattingly was struck by a bullet in the leg. There was no conclusive evidence that any of Hankison’s bullets hit Taylor, Cameron said. “For that reason, the only charge recommended was wanton endangerment,” he said. He also said at the news conference that prosecutors “walked them (the grand jury) through every homicide offense and also presented all of the information that was available to the grand jury.”

A judge ordered the public release of the grand jury proceedings during Hankison’s arraignment Monday. Cameron said the grand jury is meant to be a “secretive body,” but “it’s apparent that the public interest in this case isn’t going to allow that to happen.” The attorney general said a record of the proceedings would be released Wednesday, and that the public “will see that over the course of two-and-a-half days, our team presented a thorough and complete case to the grand jury.”

An attorney for Taylor’s family reiterated the need to release the complete record. “Since the grand jury decision was announced, we’ve been saying that Daniel Cameron clearly failed to present a comprehensive case that supported justice for Breonna,” attorney Ben Crump said in a news release Tuesday.

A member of the grand jury sued on Monday to have a record of the proceedings released and allow the panel’s members to talk publicly about their experiences. The grand juror’s attorney, Kevin Glogower, said Tuesday that Cameron has “yet to answer what was actually presented as far as the charges and the individual they were directed to.” “I think that’s important to know and my client feels the same,” Glogower said.

The grand juror’s lawsuit accused Cameron of “using the grand jury to deflect accountability and responsibility for (the indictment) decisions.” The public disclosure of grand jury minutes is rare. Most states have laws that would make it impossible. Other states, such as California, allow it under very specific circumstances, and some require a judge’s order. Grand jury transcripts were released in the police shooting of Michael Brown in Missouri. But a judge refused to release the minutes of the grand jury that decided not to indict New York City officers in Eric Garner’s death in 2014, citing in part concerns over secrecy.

In Georgia, 11th Circuit this year ruled against releasing grand jury records in the 1946 lynching of two Black couples. A coroner’s report says Taylor was shot five times and died of multiple gunshot wounds. It says she was hit in the torso, her upper left arm and both legs. She tested negative for drugs and alcohol.

The night of the botched drug raid, the officers were carrying a “no-knock” warrant but Cameron said a witness testified that they knocked and announced their presence at Taylor’s door. On Tuesday, The Courier Journal reported that the witness gave conflicting accounts.

Aaron Sarpee told police in March nobody identified themselves, but in a follow-up interview in May he said he heard officers announce ”this is the cops,” the newspaper said, citing documents it obtained.

This story has been edited to correct that the court is releasing the record of the grand jury deliberations, not the attorney general, who said he has no objections. It also has been edited to clarify that the judge’s order to release the information came during an officer’s arraignment hearing, not in response to the grand juror’s request.

Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report.

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On Saturday, July 18, 2020, at approximately 9:10 A.M., deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station responded to assist Cal-fire and Southern California Edison with a power grid fire in the area of Enchanted Trails and Old Bridge in the city of San Jacinto. After further inspection, it was determined that the power grid  fire was caused by a residence located at the 1100 block of Enchanted Trails. This residence had overloaded the power grid system in this area, causing it to over heat and light on fire. 

The San Jacinto Special Enforcement Team responded and confirmed this residence was an illegal indoor marijuana grow. A search warrant was authored and served at this residence. Deputies located seven makeshift grow rooms and collected 1,010 marijuana plants at various stages of growth, large amounts of packaging, 24 fans, 35 lights and 41 ballast. California Edison confirmed an illegal electrical by-pass underneath the electrical meter, the estimated theft of utilities is $45,000.  Two male subjects were detained inside the residence, Stan Ly, a 64-year-old resident of Rosemead. Deputies were unable to identify the second subject and he was listed as John Doe. Both Ly and Doe were transported to Larry Smith Correctional Facility and booked for Maintaining a drug house,  Theft of utilities, Marijuana cultivation and Marijuana sales. This investigation is on-going.  Anyone with additional information is urged to call the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station Deputy Pingel at (951) 654-2702.

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In June, deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff Station’s Problem Oriented Policing Team began investigating complaints from the Alberhill Ranch community regarding possible illegal marijuana cultivation occurring within the City of Lake Elsinore.

On July 2, 2020, at the direction of Sheriff Chad Bianco, deputies served a search warrant at the 4000 block of Ladrillo Street. The entire residence was transformed into a marijuana cultivation site using common building materials. Over 750 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were located and eradicated. City of Lake Elsinore Code Enforcement and Southern California Edison Company responded to the residence and the residence was deemed uninhabitable due to various building code violations.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Beaudet at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station (951) 245-3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

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Search: Marijuana Grow Operation

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On June 23, 2020, deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Stations Problem Oriented Policing Team received information regarding  possible illegal marijuana cultivation occurring in the city of Lake Elsinore. Deputies were advised of an electrical by-pass with utility theft occurring at the residence.

On June 23, 2020, at the direction of Sheriff Chad Bianco, deputies served a search warrant on Della Cava Lane in the city of Lake Elsinore.  The residence was transformed using common building materials (including an expansion of the second floor) into illegal marijuana cultivation sites. Approximately 1350 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, and approximately 1.5 pounds of processed marijuana were located inside the residence. The electrical system within the residence was illegally altered causing a severe fire hazard.  Southern California Edison Company responded to the residence and turned the power off due to the illegal wiring throughout the residence. Southern California Edison determined that approximately $104,000 in electricity had been stolen.  Lake Elsinore Code Enforcement along with Building and Safety responded and determined the residence was uninhabitable.   

This is an ongoing investigation.  Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Talbott at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station (951) 245-3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members.  Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: Marijuana Grow Operation

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