Garrison: No Comment Until Family Sees Report
The Cherokee Sheriff is waiting until Andrew Messina's family has seen the GBI report.
The discussion at a Tuesday meeting between the District Attorney and Sheriff Roger Garrison is staying under wraps until the family of Andrew Messina, the 16-year-old killed by SWAT snipers in May, has seen the report.
The meeting was to discuss a 2,000-page report from the GBI, and to determine if the DA would take any action, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Lt. Jay Baker with the sheriff's office said in a press release, "In regards to the meeting that occurred today between Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison and District Attorney Gary Moss, Sheriff Garrison will be making no further comment until the Messina family receives the GBI report which should occur within 48 hours."
Messina's death also sparked the beginning of the group "Justice for Andrew Messina" on Facebook. The group is aimed at changing the way SWAT reacts to juveniles, the Cherokee Tribune reports.
Rico
12:28 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I truly hope that this report is the result of a thorough and unbiased investigation. I have been troubled about the silence from our media outlets as it relates to this tragedy and the amount of time the investigation has taken. There are many unanswered questions about the steps taken that lead to the shooting. There have also been numerous rumors about young Andrew that have tarnished his memory and caused unnecessary suffering to an already grieving family.
Cindy
5:49 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I couldnt have said that better Rico. Thank you for caring and getting involved.
Garrison, in my opinion, is a coward. A man would have stepped forward, not hide behind silence. I wonder, will the actual report not come out until after July 31st ?
Vote DAVID WATERS for Sheriff of Cherokee. A new Cherokee.
Stanner
8:40 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
WSB reported that the da has decided to not bring charges against the police sniper. So the da has seen the report. and saying that a Man would have stepped forward is just postering.. There are rules when it comes to slander and such and I respect Garrison more for not trying to posture infront of the media. He let the gbi do its investigation. Watch wsb and the videos they showed from his iphone videos , where he was telling the people on the phone he was going to shoot a cop. This is not a case of Andrew is not that type of person like everyone reported when this first happened..
Kary Sky 2
9:40 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Stanner I agree with you that it was more respectful than not for the Sheriff to keep his comments to himself until the investigation was complete and it was beyond respectful for him to wait until the Messina's read the report (especially considering the horrible things people have been saying about him). I am saddended that the Messinas are being forced to go through this situation publically. No matter how it happened or why it happend their son is dead. Andrew was probably normally a nice kid but the combination of prescription medication and alcohol can completely change a person.
Rico
10:31 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
The initial GBI report has not answered some key questions where it relates to the incident in its entirety. Why did the negotiators leave cover to put themselves in the line of fire? Why was the Bearcat or tear gas not used? Why did an official on site say the phone conversation between Andrew and his dad was interfering with the negotiation? These are the type of troubling questions that can lead to protracted lawsuits and prolonged suffering for all.
Stanner
10:41 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
tear gas cant be used when the house has been doused with flamable liquid it shows in the video they showed on wsb that andrew took himself how many bottles were on the floor? what is a bearcat going to do when its a tank that is really used outdoors.
Concerned For Cherokee
11:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Stanner, if you haven't seen a bearcat, you should. It has arms that can tear off doors, break out window and assist with getting the perp out. Time was on the Sheriff's side and he had no patience. If he had made his men stand back and got the bearcat, this would have all gone differently. And if they had used teargas, he would have had 2 options- come out willingly or come out unconscious and able to be resuscitated.. The positive of either: he'd still be alive.
Kary Sky 2
12:07 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
My concern now would be why would they want a person that upset with a loaded gun coming out into public before calming down? I thought this entire time that the gun was unloaded but the WSB video clearly shows the gun was loaded. Are the effects of tear gas guaranteed on a person using prescription medication and alcohol? How much alcohol was involved?
Rico
11:53 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Hi Stanner. I ask questions here as a parent, a concerned citizen and a former SWAT member. I don't know the circumstances or the mind of those on the scene. I'm not sure it's correct to say that several bottles had been poured out. However the house was surrounded and tear gas through a back door or window usually does it's intended purpose. From what I understand the lad was very frightened by the sight of an armed SWAT member with a plexi-shield and negotiator at the front door. It appears this decision antagonized the lad and the results are now history. If he was not able to continue talking to his dad that was also a contributing factor to his state of mind and the outcome. As for the Bearcat, it is a tool that can be used to keep people out of harms way such as was placing a negotiator almost in the line of fire. It is my opinion that in a situation where there are no hostages or shots being fired, especially with a juvenile, backing away and buying time works better than hurrying an outcome.
Stanner
12:46 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Rico its right to say several bottles because if you have seen the video that wsb posted that is from andrews phone you will see several bottles on the floor in the dining room. Some are near the windows and some are back where he is walking around. He even kicks one in the video. As to a bearcat yes i have seen them and they are great for breaking down doors and pulling bars off windows ect. I am not a swat member or a parent but i have been around for 40 years on this planet and the kid said he was going to either kill himself or a policeman or both on the phone. So using a bearcat to get into the house would give him the time to do that.. just my op.
Kary Sky 2
11:16 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Is there a copy of the full GBI report made public?
Another Angry Mom
9:26 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
READ THIS AND LEARN:
http://smyrna.patch.com/articles/armed-subject-barricaded-inside-smyrna-apartment