PoliceDefense.org - Defending the Police - Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund

Vol 12, No. 1 (Spring, 2011)

Torrey Thompson Wins Case After Three-Year Battle

The case against Torrey Thompson, a former officer of the DeKalb County (Georgia) Police Department, has been dismissed by the prosecutor after a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court of Georgia. Officer Thompson, a former U. S. Marine sergeant, had been charged with felony murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, and violation of an oath by an officer following the 2006 fatal shooting of Lorenzo Matthews during an attempted arrest.

Matthews, who had been involved in a hit-and-run incident with a stolen vehicle, refused orders by two officers to stop and show his hands. Instead, the suspect pointed a black object at them. Assuming the object to be a gun, Thompson fired at Matthews, who kept running but died later of gunshot wounds. The actions by Thompson and his fellow officers were considered justified at the time of the incident. However, two years later in 2008, a grand jury scrutinizing the DeKalb Police Department singled out this episode for further investigation.

LELDF paid the attorney fees, provided the expert witnesses, and assisted in a key legal procedure to allow Torrey to take the witness stand to tell the complete story of what had occurred. The trial judge ruled in Torrey’s favor despite vehement opposition by the prosecutor. LELDF congratulates Torrey Thompson, his legal team, and you for your support, without which he would not have been victorious.