Posted on 06/30/2008 3:49:10 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
Police say Ronnie Lionel White, 19, of Laurel was the driver of the pick-up truck that hit Cpl. Richard Findley Friday morning.
"Correctional officers found him sitting on his bed alert. When officers returned 15 minutes later to serve him his lunch, he was unresponsive. The on-site medical staff were immediately called and found no visible signs of trauma," says Col. Gregory Harris, deputy director of the Bureau of Operations with the Prince George's County Correctional Department.
EMS crews were called to the Prince George's County jail around 10:30 a.m.
Emergency workers tried to revive White in the ambulance and he was pronounced dead at Prince George's County Hospital Center.
White was admitted to jail after midnight Saturday, and he was given a medical assessment and placed in a maximum security cell. Since he was classified as a high profile offender police say they routinely checked on him every half hour.
On Sunday, police say they checked on White 15 minutes before he was found unconscious.
Vernon Herron, director of public safety for Prince George's County, asked the police department to start an investigation immediately of White's death.
White was one of four people police detained in the death of Findley. He was charged with first-degree murder Saturday.
Police say the other three individuals who were detained and questioned for Findley's death are still under investigation.
On Friday morning, police say Findley was watching a truck that he thought was stolen in an apartment complex on Bowie Road near Route 197.
When Findley saw two people get into the truck, he attempted to make a traffic stop, but the truck did not stop.
The truck hit the police cruiser. At some point, Findley got out of the cruiser and was struck and dragged by the pickup, police say.
Spokeswoman Sharon Taylor says police believe the officer fired shots during the incident, but it's unclear whether anyone was hit.
Findley was taken to Laurel Regional Hospital in serious condition. He died of his injuries a short time later. He is the first officer to be killed in Prince George's County since 2005.
Findley was a 10-year veteran of the force and served as a firefighter for 20 years at the Beltsville Fire House. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
Funeral services for Findley have been arranged for Thursday.
One less vote for Obama.
Right On!
It was suicide chief!
How long till jesse Jackson rides in on his high horse.
Spontaneous human death?
P.G. County. Imagine that. :-)
I cannot believe the comments I am seeing here. Is lynching really okay with a segment of the FReeper community?
ML/NJ
Quite a large segment indeed, judging by the comments often seen on the death penalty threads.
Believe it.
Ronnie White?
Hey, maybe you CAN fix stupid.
Who was lynched?
That guys 19?
He WAS 19.
In all seriousness, I think this does need to be looked into VERY closely. Prince Georges County, Maryland, is well known (regionally, any way) as a VERY dangerous place to “cross” the police.
Imposing the death penalty on a vicious murderer is NOT lynching.
There is, as of yet, no evidence to support the argument that it was a homicide
Then again, the police are now certain that no OJ jury will get him off
"Imposing the death penalty" on an accused criminal without due process is pretty much the definition of lynching.
An addition to your other claims to fame?
Granted the guy was probably guilty and a dirt bag. Nevertheless, he has the right to due process.
The FBI needs to investigate this, and if any foul play is at hand. Which I am almost 100% certain of... Then the officer or officers should be facing the death penalty.
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