From the Chairman
Maryland Officer Found Innocent of Manslaughter
Officer Brian Catlett of Prince George's County, Maryland, has been found innocent of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment in the 1999 death of Gary A. Hopkins Jr. A suspenseful seven-day trial of the 26 year-old patrol officer ended in February following indictment of Catlett by a grand jury last September and an $80 million law suit filed by the Hopkins family.
The Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF) assisted Officer Catlett with legal counsel, attorneys' fees and expert witness fees.
The case involved an unfortunate incident on November 27, 1999, when Officers Catlett and Michael Marriott were working as security at a social function at the West Lanhan Hills firehouse. A fight broke out when the even was breaking up about 2 a.m. A concerned citizen advised police that there was a firearm in one of the cars involved in the confrontation. Officer Devin White, on duty nearby in his clearly marked police cruiser, stopped a white car that fit the description. As the officer got out of his cruiser, a backseat passenger, Gary Hopkins, grabbed Officer White's pistol. White was able to wrest it back, but then Hopkins got out of the car and tried to grab the gun a second time. White stepped back and ordered Hopkins to the ground. Rather than obey this lawful order, Hopkins seized the barrel of the firearm and a struggle ensued for control of the weapon. While this was occurring, Officer Catlett approached to provide assistance. Observing the scuffle for the gun, Catlett quickly assessed the Officer White was in danger of losing his weapon and being shot with his own firearm. Officer Catlett fired one shot striking Hopkins in the chest. Hopkins died from the wound later that night.
Unfortunately, critical pieces of scientific and forensic evidence had been withheld from the grand jury, including DNA evidence and the autopsy report confirming that Gary Hopkins had grabbed the barrel end of the officer's weapon. The FBI found DNA from the deceased lodged in the trigger site of the gun. Also, the medical examiner's autopsy reported lacerations on Hopkins' hand demonstrated that there had been a struggle for Officer White's firearm.
Officer Catlett's attorney, Robert Bonsib, said that there would have been no indictment and no trial if all of the evidence had been submitted to the grand jury. "The nightmare is over for Officer Catlett," Bonsib said. "This prosecution was ill-advised from the very beginning."
"Officer Catlett fired to save the life of another police officer."Bonsib said.
This evidence was presented at the trial to a packed courtroom and was a key factor in Circuit Court Judge E. Allen Shepherd's decision to acquit Officer Catlett. It was reported that Judge Shepherd cited the DNA evidence as a critical factor in his decision.
Police Union Chief John Bartlett was delighted with the verdict and according to the Washington Post, "blasted Maryland State's Attorney Jack Johnson whom he accused of bringing the case for political reasons amid the furor over police misconduct."
"We're very excited about the verdict," Barlett said. "We believe Jack Johnson owes an apology to the citizens of Prince George's. The family of Gary Hopkins and especially Brian Catlett."
Once again, an officer has been forced to endure shame, suffering and an unnecessary trial for defending a fellow police officer who was in danger of being shot. LELDF congratulates Officer Catlett's attorneys for an excellent defense of this unfortunate case.
