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Le Sueur Co. deputy not charged
Grand jury deliberates on shooting of an unarmed man
Published Monday, November 9, 2009
LE CENTER — A Le Sueur County sheriff’s deputy won’t be charged in the July shooting death of an unarmed Kasota man, a grand jury decided.
The grand jury deliberated for about two hours Friday night after hearing testimony in the death of Tyler Heilman. The 24-year-old was wearing only swimming trunks when Deputy Todd Waldron shot him twice in the chest during a July 20 arrest attempt.
Waldron was not in uniform, and Heilman’s friends say he never identified himself as a deputy when he pulled over Heilman, who had been swimming at an apartment complex and allegedly speeding and driving erratically on the way home. The incident happened in Kasota, which is about 60 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
The grand jury had been asked to consider charges of second-degree intentional murder and second-degree unintentional murder against Waldron.
The grand jury’s decision was unwelcome to Heilman’s friends.
“It’s ridiculous. I’m in shock right now,” Amber Hagan said. “I don’t feel like Tyler gets justice.”
Assistant Anoka County Attorney Andrew Johnson, who handled the case, said some details about what happened have yet to emerge. He said some witnesses to the shootings gave accounts that differed from Heilman’s friends.
Johnson said that he may release more details on what happened in a few weeks.
Heilman’s family has said they are considering filing civil charges against Waldron.
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Comments
Posted by VoiceOfTruth (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not a cop.....but I have a permit to carry and even I would'nt be that stupid. He shot the kid ....he should go to jail......I guess if your cop you can kill who you want. I will sure be sure to be more careful around a cop. Just because they have a gun dont mean they have a brain......as the cop ever heard of a @#$% tazer?
Posted by Me2 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are many legitimate reasons that deadly force may have been used even without the presence of a weapon, hence the grand jury's decision... but of course you are the expert VoiceOfTruth.
Posted by Warhog (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was not there, I was not on the Grand Jury but " The 24-year-old was wearing only swimming trunks" if it was a Non LEO shooting, I wonder if the result would be the same. I wonder if a "less than lethal" option was was available but in the heat of the moment there may not have been time to employ it. Did Heilman made a grab for the deputy's firearm, too many questions unanswered, so few facts in the story.
The story leaves me asking more questions than it answered.
Posted by soberandclean (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actions like this.Is what give police officer's bad raps.The kid was unarmed and just in swim trunks.What they fail to say.The cop shot 4 times.One bullet going into the side of the building,into an apartment.It was a bad judgement call thats for sure.But the jury found him not guilty.We might not like it or agree with it.But thats the way it goes.
Posted by TameThaTane (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know what's stranger, the cop who got away with murder or the police apologists on this forum with so little respect for human life they let them get away with it. I'm convinced there's a significant number of haters who would prefer to see people they don't like to be shot on sight...illegals, pot smokers etc. Well, you get the picture.
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