HARTFORD — -
After police pulled Brandon Henry from his hiding spot under the porch of a house on Elmer Street, Hartford police Sgt. Andrew Weaver approached and asked him who he was.
Henry, who had a bullet wound in his chest, gave the sergeant his name and told him where he lived. Then Henry, his breathing labored, said "I can't believe I was shot over drugs."
Weaver testified Thursday in Superior Court where Robert Lawlor, a Hartford police detective, is on trial on charges that he fired into a black Nissan Maxima in 2005, killing 18-year-old Jashon Bryant and injuring Henry.
Lawlor, 45, is facing manslaughter and assault charges.
Lawlor was working with an agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when he said he saw Bryant holding a gun as Bryant got into a car in a parking lot at Main and Nelson streets, authorities said.
The officers approached the car, and when the vehicle began moving, Lawlor fired his weapon, according to court records. Police never found a weapon, and an investigatory grand jury recommended that charges be brought against Lawlor.
Henry sped away after the shooting and crashed into another vehicle near Clark and Nelson streets in the city's North End.
A West Hartford K-9 officer, Eric Rocheleau, also testified Thursday. He said he was called to the scene of the crash and asked to help find the driver of the Maxima. He said Bryant was in the passenger seat with severe injuries, and Henry was missing.
Rocheleau said the police dog picked up Bryant's scent and led officers around, under and over fences, through a parking lot and a backyard. The track went cold on Elmer Street, but officers found Henry under the porch of a house.
"I heard someone yelling, 'He's under here,'" Rocheleau said.
Police retraced their steps to the car, looking for a weapon, but did not find one, police said.
During cross-examination, Lawlor's attorney, Michael A. Georgetti, asked about buildings and areas that the police officer and his dog had not searched. He questioned whether a weapon could have been thrown into some of those areas.
"If there's an open window or an open door, would the dog pick that up?" Georgetti asked.
"No," Rocheleau said.
"If a person had thrown a gun past Elmer Street, 30 or 40 yards, would your dog have tracked that?" Georgetti asked.
"No," Rocheleau said.
The manslaughter trial continues today.
Henry, who had a bullet wound in his chest, gave the sergeant his name and told him where he lived. Then Henry, his breathing labored, said "I can't believe I was shot over drugs."
Weaver testified Thursday in Superior Court where Robert Lawlor, a Hartford police detective, is on trial on charges that he fired into a black Nissan Maxima in 2005, killing 18-year-old Jashon Bryant and injuring Henry.
Lawlor, 45, is facing manslaughter and assault charges.
Lawlor was working with an agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when he said he saw Bryant holding a gun as Bryant got into a car in a parking lot at Main and Nelson streets, authorities said.
The officers approached the car, and when the vehicle began moving, Lawlor fired his weapon, according to court records. Police never found a weapon, and an investigatory grand jury recommended that charges be brought against Lawlor.
Henry sped away after the shooting and crashed into another vehicle near Clark and Nelson streets in the city's North End.
A West Hartford K-9 officer, Eric Rocheleau, also testified Thursday. He said he was called to the scene of the crash and asked to help find the driver of the Maxima. He said Bryant was in the passenger seat with severe injuries, and Henry was missing.
Rocheleau said the police dog picked up Bryant's scent and led officers around, under and over fences, through a parking lot and a backyard. The track went cold on Elmer Street, but officers found Henry under the porch of a house.
"I heard someone yelling, 'He's under here,'" Rocheleau said.
Police retraced their steps to the car, looking for a weapon, but did not find one, police said.
During cross-examination, Lawlor's attorney, Michael A. Georgetti, asked about buildings and areas that the police officer and his dog had not searched. He questioned whether a weapon could have been thrown into some of those areas.
"If there's an open window or an open door, would the dog pick that up?" Georgetti asked.
"No," Rocheleau said.
"If a person had thrown a gun past Elmer Street, 30 or 40 yards, would your dog have tracked that?" Georgetti asked.
"No," Rocheleau said.
The manslaughter trial continues today.
How about covering the Bryant family's antics? This spectacle is disgusting and unfair. The dead guy's family is totally out of control and gets a pass. Got a few in the past as well. Yeah, a nolle on a breach of peace and a non-arrest because HPD did not want to fan the flames. Disgusting.
LieSlayer (11/13/2009, 10:30 PM )