There are still plenty of questions about
the tragic accident, just what the
deputies did and how their prisoners
drown still hasn't been completely pieced
together.
The testimony seems to indicate the
victims weren't handcuffed when the boat
they were in turned over
to the pathologist who did two of the
autopsies said there were no marks or
bruises on the risks of the dead.
Teenager's Dr. Kenneth Wittstock
added, It will be weeks before the lab
tests can determine if the young men were
using drugs at the time of their arrest.
Special prosecutor Larry Berocca says he
may never unravel the entire mystery,
but the physical evidence does support
the claim that the prisoners were
handcuffed.
In effort to gain more insight, Berocca
spent part of his day watching TV news
stories about the incident and the body
recovery. He didn't learn anything new.
A judge tells me he probably won't issue
any arrest warrants as a result of the
inquiry.
But future legal action may take the case
back to the county courthouse.
The arrest may not have been valid, and
the handling of the prisoners could
result in formal accusations of
negligence, even if the prisoners weren't
wearing handcuffs when the accident
happened. The special prosecutor believes
there is already enough evidence to
charge the deputies.
No matter what the judge recommends is
quite likely. The whole issue will be
before the district grand jury when it
convenes next month.
Charles Ely, Channel 5 Action News,
Limestone County.