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Interesting snipits from the article...

The Sanford Police Department said officers were prohibited from arresting Zimmerman the night of the shooting because physical evidence and testimony supported his claim that he acted in self-defense. The police department gave the explanation to City Manager Norton Bonaparte, who included it in a letter to the community about the case, posted on the city’s website.

“Zimmerman’s statement was that he had lost sight of Trayvon and was returning to his truck to meet the police officer when he says he was attacked by Trayvon,” the police said in the letter posted by Bonaparte.

Sonner says his client was injured that night with a broken nose and a serious cut on the back of his head. He said the injuries “were from Trayvon Martin, I assume.”

Yep. And that seems to be supported by what a witness to the attack has claimed:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2863167/posts

"Those pesky facts keep getting in the way.

From the link:
Why was George Zimmerman not arrested the night of the shooting?
When the Sanford Police Department arrived at the scene of the incident, Mr. Zimmerman provided a statement claiming he acted in self defense which at the time was supported by physical evidence and testimony. By Florida Statute, law enforcement was PROHIBITED from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time. Additionally, when any police officer makes an arrest for any reason, the officer MUST swear and affirm that he/she is making the arrest in good faith and with probable cause. If the arrest is done maliciously and in bad faith, the officer and the City may be held liable.

and:
What about media reenactments of the shooting incident?
Any media reenactments of the shooting incident are purely speculation. To date the Sanford Police Department has not released any rendition of the events of the evening to anyone other than the Office of the State Attorney. The renditions we have seen are not consistent with the evidence in this case.

The Sanford Police Department has conducted a complete and fair investigation of this incident. We have provided the results of our investigation to the Office of the State Attorney for their review and consideration for possible criminal prosecution.

Although the Police Department is the target of the troubling questions, let me assure you we too feel the pain of this senseless tragedy that has dramatically affected our community. Therefore, as we move forward and strive to answer the questions that are a point of controversy in the community, we ask for your patience, understanding and assistance in getting the correct information to the community

We trust that this information is helpful to you.

Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr., ICMA-CM City Manager March 23, 2012

CNN's actually reporting the facts? Now that's news.

MSNBC, on the other hand, is doing all it can to stir up racial hatred.

“Zimmerman’s statement was that he had lost sight of Trayvon and was returning to his truck to meet the police officer when he says he was attacked by Trayvon,”

Here's the problem I have with that: If you check the timing on the call Zimmerman placed to Sanford dispatch, the time lapsed from when you hear him open his vehicle door (he still has to exit the vehicle) until he acknowledges the dispatcher's "we don't need you to do that" is only 18 seconds.

A full minute and a half after that - and well after the time he "lost sight of Trayvon" - he's still on the phone with dispatch and he still hasn't made it back to his truck. He also changes his mind about meeting the police at the mailboxes and asks the dispatcher if they can call him and he'll tell them where to find him.

While that isn't concrete proof of any wrongdoing, it does leave the door open to the possibility that he was determined to find this "asshole" "on drugs or something" who wouldn't "get away" this time. Now considering that he likely saw himself as the good guy out to thwart the evildoer, is it not possible that he would aggressively confront Trayvon when/if he found him? And when confronted aggressively by a stranger who he knew had been watching/following him for several minutes, is it possible that Trayvon feared for his safety and "stood his ground?"

That possibility is enough for me to agree that all the information should have been brought before a grand jury to review long before it became the media circus it is now.

19:11:12	Dispatcher: Sanford Police Department, line is being recorded. This is Sean.
19:11:16	Zimmerman: Hey we've had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there's a real suspicious guy, uh, [near] Retreat View Circle, um, the best address I can give you is 111 Retreat View Circle.
19:11:29	Zimmerman: This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about.
19:11:37	Dispatcher: Okay, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic?
19:11:39	Zimmerman: He looks black.
19:11:41	Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing?
19:11:43	Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes.
19:11:52	Zimmerman: He's here now and he’s just staring…
19:11:55	Dispatcher: Oh, he's just walking around the area…
19:11:55	Zimmerman: …looking at all the houses.
19:11:57	Dispatcher: Ah, ‘kay…
19:11:58	Zimmerman: Now he's just staring at me.
19:12:00	Dispatcher: Okay—you said it's 1111 Retreat View? Or 111?
19:12:03	Zimmerman: That's the clubhouse…
19:12:05	Dispatcher: That's the clubhouse, do you know what the—he's near the clubhouse right now?
19:12:09	Zimmerman: Yeah, now he's coming towards me.
19:12:11	Dispatcher: Okay.
19:12:15	Zimmerman: He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male.
19:12:20	Zimmerman: And he's a black male.
19:12:21	Dispatcher: Okay. How old would you say he looks?
19:12:23	Zimmerman: He's got button on his shirt..
19:12:24	Zimmerman: ..late teens.
19:12:25	Dispatcher: Late teens, okay.
19:12:26	Zimmerman: Mmhuh.
19:12:29	Zimmerman: Something’s wrong with him.
19:12:33	Zimmerman: Ayup, he's coming to check me out.
19:12:36	Zimmerman: He's got something in his hands, I don't know what his deal is.
19:12:39	Dispatcher: Okay, just let me know if he does anything okay…
19:12:40	Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here?
19:12:41	Dispatcher: Yeah, we've got ‘em on the way - just let me know if this guy does anything else.
19:12:46	Zimmerman: Okay.
19:12:49	Zimmerman: Ugh - these assholes, they always get away.
19:12:55	Zimmerman: Yep.
19:12:57	Zimmerman: When you come to the clubhouse, you come straight in…and make a left.
19:13:03	Zimmerman: Actually. You would go past the clubhouse.
19:13:06	Dispatcher: Ah. You say it's on the left hand side from the clubhouse?
19:13:10	Zimmerman: Naaah…you go in straight through the entrance…and then you make a left…uh…yea, you go straight in, don't turn, and make a left-
19:13:18	Zimmerman: - ah shit.
19:13:19	Zimmerman: He's running.
19:13:20	Dispatcher: He's running? Which way is he running?
19:13:22	[sound of vehicle door opening]
19:13:23	Zimmerman: Down towards the, uh, other entrance to the neighborhood.
19:13:26	Dispatcher: Okay, which entrance is that that he's heading towards?
19:13:28	Zimmerman: The back entrance…
19:13:32	Zimmerman: Fucking [unintelligible]
19:13:34	Dispatcher: Are you following him?
19:13:36	Zimmerman: Yeah
19:13:37	Dispatcher: Ok, we don't need you to do that.
19:13:40	Zimmerman: Ok
	[muffled noises – wind? heavy breathing?]
19:13:46	Dispatcher: Alright sir what is your name?
19:13:48	Zimmerman: George
19:13:49	Zimmerman: He ran. [muffled – breathless?]
19:13:52	Dispatcher: Alright George what's your last name?
19:13:55	Zimmerman: [two slapping/tapping noises] Zimmerman
19:13:56	Dispatcher: And George what's the phone number you're calling from?
19:13:57	[more slapping/flapping noises]
19:13:59	Zimmerman: 407-*-**[redacted]
19:14:04	Dispatcher: Alright George we do have them on the way, do you want to meet with the officer when they get out there?
19:14:08	Zimmerman: Yeah.
19:14:09	Dispatcher: Alright, where you going to meet with them at?
19:14:12	Zimmerman: Um, if they come in through the uh, gate -- tell them to go straight past the club house, [more slapping/flapping noises] and uh, straight past the club house and make a left, and then they go past the mailboxes, they’ll see my truck...[unintelligible]
19:14:31	Dispatcher: Okay. What address are you parked in front of?
19:14:33	Zimmerman: Um. I don’t know, it’s a cut through so I don’t know the address.
19:14:38	Dispatcher: Okay do you live in the area?
19:14:39	Zimmerman: Yeah, yeah…I live...[unintelligible]
19:14:40	Dispatcher: What’s your apartment number?
19:14:44	Zimmerman: It’s a home it’s 1950 [more slapping/flapping noises]
19:14:47	Zimmerman: Aw crap. I don’t want to give it all out, I don’t know where this kid is.
19:14:50	Dispatcher: Okay do you want to just meet with them right near the mailboxes then?
19:14:54	Zimmerman: Yeah that’s fine. [more faint slapping/flapping noises]
19:14:58	Dispatcher: Alright George, I’ll let them know to meet you [unintelligible] there okay?
19:14:59	Zimmerman: Actually could you…could you have them call me and I’ll tell them where I’m at?
19:15:03	Dispatcher: Okay, yeah that’s no problem.
19:15:05	Zimmerman: You need my number or you got it?
19:15:06	Dispatcher: Yeah I got it. 407-*-** [redacted]?
19:15:07	Zimmerman: Yeah you got it.
19:15:11	Dispatcher: Okay no problem, I’ll let them know to call you when you’re in the area.
19:15:14	Zimmerman: Thanks.
19:15:15	Dispatcher: You’re welcome.