ACQUITTAL OF EX-OFFICER IN RAID ANGERS RESIDENTS

LEBANON - The acquittal of a Lebanon police officer for his role in a
botched drug raid that led to the death of an elderly man does not sit well
with some residents here.

The Wilson County branch of the NAACP will have a news conference later
this week to express its displeasure with the handling of the prosecution
and the acquittal Friday of former Lebanon Police Lt. Steve Nokes.

Nokes led the Oct. 4 raid that ended in the death of John Adams, 62. Nokes
is white and Adams was black.

"It was a crime against the black community, but what we have to say means
nothing," NAACP Vice President Gary Owens said. "The Lebanon Police
Department thinks it's untouchable (and) that's what we call them - 'the
untouchables.' "

But Owens and NAACP member Robert Huddleston said Lebanon officials had
been warned in the past that a mistake like Adams' death might happen, but
their concerns went unheeded.

"We went back 40 years as a black community," Huddleston said of the jury's
verdict to acquit Nokes on four of five charges. "There are people so upset
with the police I don't know what they are going to do."

Both men said they were speaking as individuals and not for the NAACP.

Nokes, a 10-year police veteran, was acquitted on charges of criminal
responsibility for reckless homicide, tampering or fabricating evidence and
aggravated perjury. The jury was deadlocked on a charge of criminal
responsibility for negligent homicide, causing Circuit Judge John Wootten
Jr. to declare a mistrial.

District Attorney General Tommy Thompson could not be reached yesterday for
comment on the prospect of a retrial on the remaining count.

Lebanon Safety Commissioner Billy Weeks, who was police chief during the
misdirected raid, said the city has taken procedural steps to prevent
mistakes such as this in the future and is taking steps to train officers
in cultural diversity. The department also is monitoring police traffic
stops to ensure that no racial profiling is talking place.

"We don't want this to reflect on us forever," he said. "This is just
something we need to put behind us."

Adams, apparently believing he was a victim of a home invasion, shot at
police officers with a shotgun. He was killed when they returned fire.

Nokes supervised the raid and testified that he attempted to stop it at the
last minute. But he also overruled a subordinate who had warned before the
raid that officers might have the wrong house.

The jury in Nokes' trial included one black juror and 11 whites. Seven of
the 12 jurors were men and five were women.

Criticism of the prosecution and verdict from about 20 people interviewed
yesterday in Lebanon was not limited to black residents.

"I think he (Nokes) was the head man and he was responsible that his
information is correct," said Ed Hamlett, who is white.

Others said other officers in the raid besides Nokes should have been charged.

"From the very beginning I didn't think that it should have been pinned on
one guy," said Jodie Bentley, who is white.

"I don't think you can prosecute one man . and make him the scapegoat,"
said John Ash, also white.

"It should have gone up the chain of command," Huddleston agreed. "It goes
all the way up. They all made mistakes. Until we do that, we won't have any
justice."