Investigation continues into death of child hit by unmarked sheriff’s vehicle

October 31, 2008

The investigation into the death of 11-year old LaKeisha White (left photo) who was hit by an unmarked sheriff’s car on July 17th continues. The special prosecutor handling the case is former Williamson County District Attorney Joe Baugh (see background listed below). According to reliable sources, evidence gathered at the scene shows this to be a tragic accident and no charges have been filed against Detective Ron Killings. In fact, the respected law enforcement officer remains at work and has been assigned to inside duties at the sheriffs office.

CITY MANAGER ROGER HALEY: A letter from Murfreesboro City Manager Roger Haley to police Sergeant Sam Campbell says, “I question who was actually in charge based on the removal of Sgt. Killings and his vehicle from the scene by personnel of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office”. (see background information below referring to convenience store surveillance video). Haley continued, “The degree of outside influence over a potential crime scene when the scene was the responsibility of the Murfreesboro Police Department should not have occurred. I also find unacceptable the failure to gather and log information and evidence.”

MURFREESBORO POLICE CHIEF GLENN CHRISMAN: As you recall, on August 8th Chief Glenn Chrisman pulled Campbell from the command position of this investigation when he learned that a bottle containing alcohol had been linked to Detective Killings (left photo) and it was not secured as evidence.

MURFREESBORO POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF RANDY GARRETT: In another letter, Murfreesboro Police Deputy Chief Randy Garrett recommended that Sergeant Campbell be placed on a 10-day suspension for failing to properly handle evidence and failing to take command of the crash scene. Haley approved that suspension, and in his letter to Sergeant Campbell gave him an unsatisfactory job performance and placed him on 6-months probation. The Murfreesboro city manager made it clear that more severe punishment would be issued if a standard of behavior was not met during this period.

Background: Hopkinsville’s Lakeisha White was visiting her grandmother in Murfreesboro. Shortly before 9:00 o’clock on the evening of July 17th, the 11-year old was walking from her grandmother’s apartment along Bradyville Pike to visit a nearby aunt. She was struck by an unmarked Rutherford County Sheriffs Office vehicle as she reportedly attempted to cross the roadway. Sheriffs Detective Ron Killings was on-duty and driving that vehicle. Family members told police that they saw the driver of the car put two bottles in a nearby trash can. It has not been released whether or not those bottles were in the vehicle’s passenger area or in the trunk. When police did not collect that evidence, members of the deceased girl’s family took the bottles to their attorney who had them analyzed. Reportedly, when they were linked to Detective Killings, their attorney presented that evidence to District Attorney General Bill Whitesell. In addition, surveillance video from a convenience store shows Detective Killing buying non-alcoholic drinks a half-hour after the incident occurred. Reports from an alcohol test that was made later in the evening did not show alcohol as a factor. The family asked that Rutherford County D.A. Whitesell step-down from the case, since he regularly works with the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office and the Murfreesboro City Police. The family asked that a special prosecutor be appointed. Former Williamson County District Attorney Joe Baugh agreed to take the case.

$7.5-million lawsuit: The family filed a $7.5-million lawsuit against Rutherford County, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, and Detective Sergeant Ron Killings. Lakeisha White’s mother is asking for $5-million dollars in the wrongful death suit that was filed Friday, August 8th. In the suit, she ask that her six other children each receive $250-thousand dollars. Witnesses to the crash that include a grandmother and three cousins also seek to be paid $250-thousand dollars each. The suit noted that they were in the danger zone and suffer from observing the tragic event.

What is the truth: Conflicting information related to this case continues to be released by various media. Implications are being made without having evidence to back-it-up. And since the case is under investigation, police are unable to release everything about which the media questions. One media reported that the child was hit while riding a bicycle. Police files show the child was walking and darted into the roadway when she was hit by Detective Killings’ vehicle. Other reports say Special Prosecutor Baugh is calling this vehicular homicide, when evidence released at this time does not substantiate that charge. WGNS is attempting to locate a reliable source to confirm this information or prove it to be in error. Please e-mail information and contact data to bart@WGNSradio.com

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Written by BartWalker · Filed Under News

Comments

6 Responses to “Investigation continues into death of child hit by unmarked sheriff’s vehicle”

anna on November 2nd, 2008 12:06 pm

Lets get the store straight It was frist told that they saw him (police officer) throw the bottles out of the car. and wittness found the bottles in a dig the next day
the wittness gave it to the family andt the family gave it to the police .
NOW
YOU HAVE CHANGE YOUR STORY.
Now your saying that you all saw the police officer put the bottles in a trash can,
Well Which is it This Big tall tale has got to many seeing things ,
and telling thing that just does not seem true,
Which one is the truth????
Sam on November 2nd, 2008 2:58 pm

This is the same story I’ve heard from the beginning. I don’t know where you heard your news.
Narron on November 2nd, 2008 4:20 pm

I was uncomfortable with the way this was looking at first. Now I see justice will be done and nothing will be swept under the rug. You would not find this in many communtieis. I am proud to call this home, and proud that everyone is treated equally and fairly.
former police officer on November 2nd, 2008 7:18 pm

as a former policeman i can see how this happened. we do stick together. it may not always be right in the eyes of the public, but it is a fact of life. doctors and lawyers do it, so do other professions. but as a cop, not only are the bad guys out to get you–so is the general public. when the fox is watching the hen house these things happen. i do not know of a way to change it. the more dangerous a job, the more bonding there is, and this is a result of a strong bond. don’t go overboard ripping this thing apart, you’re just going to weaken the system and that hurts the public.
Linda Wilson on November 4th, 2008 12:22 pm

I must say that the major point in this matter is that the young child was crossing a busy street without adult present. She was 11 years old. Officer Killings did not try to hit her she darted out in front of his moving car. Wait until all the TRUE facts are in before you start bad mouthing a fine officer. This family sees $$$$ signs. In the end it will be about how much money they can get.
Ed Jones on September 24th, 2009 7:25 pm

I don’t understand the “tampering with evidence” charge regarding the liquor bottles. If Killings blood alcohol content was zero, then the bottles were evidence… of what? Of nothing. Suppose he threw away a Krystal burger wrapper?

I understand the implications of there being liquor bottle(s) in the car rather than burger trash. But, since this was an alcohol-free crash, the bottles have no evidentiary value.

Second, I don’t understand the reckless homicide charge either. If anyone gets run over on a roadway it’s not the fault of the driver unless there was a pedestrian crosswalk, intoxication or reckless driving involved. Yet, I’ve seen nothing to state that Killings was driving recklessly, and he certainly wasn’t drunk.

Where were the parents when the child was in the street at night? I know where Mom is now… she wants millions of dollars. But, where was she then?

Then the MPD sergeant investigating the accident gets relieved of duty plus 10-days suspension, 6-months probation and an unsatisfactory job evaluation? The man won’t be with the MPD long… the writing is on the wall. It also sounds that a novice city manager runs the police department rather than the Chief of Police.

My bottom line is that the entire mess stinks of politics. And, in the case of MPD Sgt. Sam Campbell, it serves as a reminder to would-be police officers NOT to work for agencies that don’t have a civil service system that guarantees due process and right of appeal protection from unfair political harrassment.