Tulsa PD Chief, DA Accused of Railroading Officer To Prevent Race Riot in Terence Crutcher Shooting

By Bob Owens

The attorney for Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby accused Chief Chuck Jordan and District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler today of bypassing a police investigation that would rule Shelby’s shooting of PCP addict Terence Crutcher justified, in order to charge her in what appears to be a politicially-motivated prosecution.

Before a judge made the decision that Shelby should stand trial, [Defense attorney Shannon] McMurray accused the police chief and district attorney Tuesday morning of working around the police homicide unit to charge the officer before the investigation was complete.

After prosecutors wrapped up their preliminary hearing case against Shelby, McMurray alleged Police Chief Chuck Jordan committed a series of “pre-emptive strikes” against Shelby after she shot Crutcher, 40, about 7:44 p.m. Sept. 16 in the 2300 block of East 36th Street North. Shelby appeared in a large courtroom set aside for her preliminary hearing, which had been assigned to a smaller courtroom, to accommodate spectators and media.

Special Judge Martha Rupp Carter took over the case Tuesday after it had been set to be heard before Special Judge James Keeley. Carter ordered the court to be in recess around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday so she could review helicopter and dash camera footage of the shooting.

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Source:: Bearing Arms