EASY TO MAKE A CALL WITH HINDSIGHT

The verdict is in. A Stephens County Grand Jury has determined that
members of the Mountains Judicial Circuit Narcotics Criminal
Investigation and Suppression Team would not face criminal charges in
the Sept. 1 shooting of Jonathan Ayers. He later died from his
wounds at Stephens County Hospital.

The shooting came as drug task force members sought to stop and
question Ayers as he was leaving a convenience store. Store security
video showed drug enforcement agents driving into the store's parking
lot and at least two men exiting the large unmarked vehicle. When
the men next appeared in the video they had their weapons drawn and
were moving about a car exiting a parking spot.

The investigation of the shooting was conducted by the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation.

The Grand Jury special session started Dec. 15 and the jurors reached
their decision Dec. 17.

Evidence produced included witness testimony and statements, video
and photographic evidence and lab reports, as well as information
from the GBI's investigation. _The jury found deadly force was
justified because Agent Billy Shane Harrison had a reasonable belief
force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself
or others. _The jury has spoken. The verdict that no criminal charges
will be filed against Harrison is final.

There are other judgments that must be made now. Those include local
law enforcement agencies scrutinizing their procedure manuals to
ensure such a situation does not again occur.

It must be remembered that these agents were only seeking to talk to
Ayers. He was not a suspect and there was no arrest warrant out for
him. The agents placed themselves in a situation that was untenable.
Rather than placing themselves in jeopardy, they could have called
for back-up or taken other measures.

The harsh reality is lawmakers have also made it easier for people to
carry weapons for self-protection. These weapons are often concealed.
If someone carrying a weapon suddenly finds himself facing men with
drawn weapons jumping from a vehicle, you can imagine the firefight
that would occur. Is that justified?

The police have a tough job and it's easy to make a call with 20/20
hindsight.

In this case it is the obligation of law enforcement to ensure that
proper procedures and training are developed so as to prevent the
death of another innocent person.