Man charged in death of Chesapeake officer arraigned in court

Jersey, you evidentally don't know what freedom is. Perhaps, you should return to Jersey because you left some much needed parts there.

This kid needs to go free.. While I feel for the Det.'s family, they are doing this kid wrong and Chesapeake will end up having to pay for both ends of this mistake. I'm quite sure this kid is petrified in a cell, surely full of utter remorse for how this played out... Chesapeake will be sued by this kid, and also owe Det. Shiver's family for his "very wrongful" death, and I hope his family does look to Chesapeake for honest answers... Now with a "high stakes" prosecutor in place... what a media frenzy we will have with this one....

Sprundit should realize that the media did not manufactor this story. It is real. It really happened. The reason so much noise has been made is because concerned citizens have become involved through channels such as this blog. You cannot blame the nedia for the furor that has follwed the story. Instead of placing blame on the media, you should be proud of your fellow man for asking questions where they perceive there to be an injustice. Often I lose faith on society and actions such as these reaffirm we are not all blind idiots willing to be led to the brink. Now that I got that off of my chest; where the heck is Al Sharpton on this one? No justice for whitey?

I've not heard yet if the young man was charged w/ illegally possessing the gun he used to shoot the officer. Could it be becuz he had it legally? Now the young man in jail says he had about 3 joints?? A long way from a garage full of reefer plants! And the lights to grow a banana tree is not so bizarre. My mother has those lights they used in their barn to grown tomatoes. Thank goodness she lives in VB and not Chesapeake or else she may be taken off to jail after a midnight door kick-in!! Chesapeake police need to question their informant a bit more and find out how this misinformation came about (we've not heard anymore about this CI either!!) Too many secrets, Chesapeake. Too many mistakes. Don't hang this young man behind YOUR errors.

Yet another example of how this area needs to offer police a competitive salary, require thorough training as professionals and start reigning in the "shoot first, ask questions later" cowboys with their guns. If this person had reached for the telephone to call the cops instead of his gun this incident wouldn't ever had happened and we wouldn't even know about the bust.

The CPD was serving the warrant to the accused for suspected dealing. There wasn't just one of them outside the house. They broadcast their intent so loudly, that neighbors over a block away heard them.

For those that wonder about why the police would kick in your door for a small amount of marijuana, thats just what you should ask. Why would the police send that much manpower to serve a simple warrant? They wouldn't. So isn't it more likely the media isn't telling all? And for what reason?

Chesapeake is one to keep details to themselves about what goes on, unlike Norfolk and Portsmouth who seem to revel in it, the media is giving you a dose of garbage on this story.

With all due respect to the officer who lost his life and others who risk their lives on a daily basis to keep citizens safe there do seem to be questions in this case that are disturbing in regard to policy and judgement.

It seems the arrest of someone suspected of a non-violent crime could have been handled in a more prudent, less dangerous manner.

The public must have some way of intervening to keep them from prosecuting this poor kid for murder when all he did was protect himself. "Don't shoot blindly" my behind! If my house had recently been broken into and I woke up to someone kicking their way through my door, I would have responded the same way. By the time whomever was kicking in the door got all the way in so he could get a clear look at them, they could have shot first. This officer's life was lost due to a foolish decision by someone higher up. Poor Ryan... If anyone knows a way we can get together and try to help him, please post it! If it gets flagged here, post it in the craigslist politics section!

One article stated that officer Shivers was "doing what he does best," which was knocking the door in for the other detectives to enter. He was likely shot by the single bullet through the arm and chest because the body armor protects the chest and back. If he was swinging the battering-ram against the door, he was standing sideways. The bottom portion of the door was broken through, enabling another detective to grab the bottom section and pull it out to enable entry. Frederick likely shot in response to the dark figure pulling the bottom section of the door out of the way, but ended up inadvertantly shooting Det Shivers through the remaining upper portion of the door (Ryan fired two shots, one struck Shivers, what about the other...pulled out of the body armor of the officer pulling the lower door section??). Regardless, the warrant sites "broken door" in the evidence seized. I think he had a pretty good idea that people were breaking into the house and that it wasn't Avon calling. I doubt he knew it was the police, particularly if he was already in bed before the raid (the dogs barking woke him up, not the "police" announcement Frederick's neighbor didn't hear either).

The warrant stated the police had information that the suspect was growing pot in the garage. Were the police afraid the suspect would flush a hydroponic system down the toilet? They weren't looking for a couple grams, or even pounds of drugs. They were looking for lights, watering equipment, a wholesale production facility. Why not stake the house out and search it once the suspect left? There should be a civilian review board to constantly review police procedure. I don't blame the judge, the information in the pdf shows good cause to search. The judge gives permission to search, not direction on how or when. The police were completely out of line on this one, they caused the death of their officer. The suspect should be out of jail on bond until this is sorted out.

UnionMan, you sound like you were there with all of your facts. Were you there? If so please share!!

One of the 3 local tv stations reports on it's web site that Fredricks was charged with "misdemeanor for simple possession of pot". So the CPDs reason for the night time raid that cost Det Shivers his life was bogus. Now Fredricks is also charged with first degree murder all because of bad CPD procedure. This is truly a tragedy and someone needs to be held responsible, but I don't think it's Fredrick. The police chief and anyone else that was involved with initiating a raid without proper investigation or planning should be held responsible. I don't think anyone should be messing with illegal drugs, pot included. I'd like to see a copy of the search warrant to see if it was for the garage or the house. I'd also like to know if one of the bullet casings found was for something other than a 380. If it was, where did it come from? Was Det Shivers crawling through the lower part of the door? Misdemeanor possession is a maximum 30 days and $500 fine. This young man had never been in trouble in his life, now the wrong procedures on CPDs behalf have ruined his life and cost a fine detective his life.

I agree with everyone who thinks this young man is innocent. Chesapeake PD really messed up. I am praying for Officer Shivers's family.

In our country, in order to obtain a warrent to search the premises of an individual, law enforcement must have "a reasonable belieif that a crime has been committed". Since the framing of the Constitution, this "reasonable belief" threshold has been perverted by the courts to allow law enforcement to employ extreme measures if there is a "'substantial chance' or 'fair probability' of criminal activity" when executing a warrent. A "better than even chance is not required" (Illinois v. Gates (1983)).
With the continual lowering of the standards once required by the Constitution by the courts, and the police forces of our nation seeking to lower the standards even more at every crossroads, it is surprising that this kind of tragedy does not occur even more frequently. Chance and probability are two concepts that I find difficult to bet the life of any individual upon.
The Chesapeake Police Department bet the lives of their officers and the defendent's life on the word of an informant whose motives will remain unknown. Whether or not their motive was revenge or self-preservation, we may never know until law enforcement releases detail pertinent to the case.

Wow! All I can say is I'm glad I'm not Regina's husband!! I'd be the dummy that forgot to call home first!!

But you can be sure she will be financially compensated either voluntarily by the City of Chesapeake or as the result of a law suit that she will surely win. I realize no amount of money can replace Detective Shivers, but SOMEBODY erred big time on this "bust." I'm sure the blame game and finger pointing is in high gear right now.

One of the 3 local tv stations reports on it's web site that Fredricks was charged with "misdemeanor for simple possession of pot". So the CPDs reason for the night time raid that cost Det Shivers his life was bogus. Now Fredricks is also charged with first degree murder all because of bad CPD procedure. This is truly a tragedy and someone needs to be held responsible, but I don't think it's Fredrick. The police chief and anyone else that was involved with initiating a raid without proper investigation or planning should be held responsible. I don't think anyone should be messing with illegal drugs, pot included. I'd like to see a copy of the search warrant to see if it was for the garage or the house. I'd also like to know if one of the bullet casings found was for something other than a 380. If it was, where did it come from? Was Det Shivers crawling through the lower part of the door? Misdemeanor possession is a maximum 30 days and $500 fine. This young man had never been in trouble in his life, now the wrong procedures on CPDs behalf have ruined his life and cost a fine detective his life.

I'm so tired of hearing people say "if you don't know who's on the other end you shouldn't shoot". Tell that to people who have been thru someone breaking in their home or attempting to. As I have said before, someone tried to open my door about 1030 at night and my dog started barking. If it weren't for my husband telling me he may come home from work early, I could have been in that position of shooting someone trying to get in my door. I'm going to protect me and mine no matter what the cost.

I have found this case troubling from the start. In previous news articles I made a comment related in relation to this. I have heard comments that law enforcement personnel performing their duties in an approved manner and for approved reasons. If this is the case responsibility will fall upon the city of Chesapeake to answer up to some hard questions. To begin with why was such force being used to perform this arrest? Why was the information from the informant not validated?

This Ryan kid needs to be let out of jail. Everything I am reading tells me he was within his rights to shoot.

IF this really goes to trial, no jury is going to convict this man of murder. The cops just want revenge and the prosecutor has to go along. How about the Chief of Police yesterday...it's business as usual. You have marijuana in your house you may have your doors broken down...INSANITY!!!!

So Ryan was arraigned this morning? What happened at the arraignment? Anyone know??

There is not a chance in _ _ _ _ that this kid will get a fair trial. Do you think that ANY evidence pointing to the police being at fault would have been or did get collected at the scene when "one of their own" lay dying? They didn't even collect the front door until a day or two later on the secondary search warrant. To say that he'll have his day in court is terrifying when there were as many armed officers outside his door as there were - I can't believe they didn't shoot the kid right there for that matter. His only saving grace in this scenario will be competent, effective, legal counsel, and it appears he's got it.

If you smoke cigarettes or drink to relax or feel a buzz, you have no business looking down on a guy who smokes pot. There are lots of things that are illegal that aren't really "wrong" and lots of things that are wrong that haven't been outlawed. I've known plenty of potheads and they are not dangerous people. No one is more likely to commit horrible crimes or shoot someone because they smoke pot. They're more likely to sit around laughing and eating junk food. They're also less likely to drive while under the influence than drinkers and when they drive after smoking, they go incredibly slow as they're absolutely paranoid. The police busted into this guy's house like they were bringing down a meth lab with a half dozen armed criminals inside. He reacted the same way most people would have. Shame on the CPD for putting a citizen in this position and for making a decision that caused an officer to lose his life!

Notice the absence of any photos of the interior of Frederick's garage. I would think that if the police found any great quantities of Marijuana, they would make sure the pictures be all over the news to justify their raid on Frederick's house. Yet, I see none of this. Looks like Officer Shivers' death was due to faulty planning on the police side. Frederick should not be charged for murder. Instead, the informant with the faulty information and all those who planned this raid from the start should have charges placed on them.

think he thought it was the police, I just don't think he thought at all. And that is the problem. You aren't supposed to shoot if you don't know what your target is. And if you aren't capable of staying in control and not panicking, maybe you shouldn't have a loaded gun.

Shame on the Chesapeake Police Department! This fallen hero is more likely an unneccessary death. Barging and breaking through a front door of a home at night in an unsafe neighborhood will put anyone- including the police- at risk. We all maintain a legal right to protecting our own lives and property. The fact that the officer was shot outside the door indicates the homeowner most likely had no idea who was breaking in. A police officer has been shot and killed, but not murdered...especially not in the first degree. The CPD KNOWS they are wrong... Notice how they didn't charge capitol murder- which is the murder of an officer! Drop the charges before two lives are ruined and our civil rights are further blurred.

Because of the inconsistencies in the stories we should all wait and let him have his day in court and let all the facts come out. Personally, I think this was a lost kid who was making a lot of mistakes for himself. I don't care who you are, guns and pot/drugs don't mix. Drugs, casual or not, are bad news and can attract all kinds of trouble. Whether he knew it was police or not, no one but Frederick and God really knows. At least the kid does show remorse, regardless. And that is more than most people in his situation ever say or feel. Unfortunately, several lives have been ruined and devastated. I really hope that young kids will not focus on this kid being a victim, but focus on the mistakes and bad decisions that led up to all of this and learn to make better decisions for themselves. It would be a shame if no one, especially young kids, do not learn anything from all of this devastation.

When I read the first article, I was concerned for the same reason Dave is. But, if Mr. Frederick had reported the breakins when they happened, the police would have been all over his place, & when their informant reported his/her "evidence" that "evidence" would have been discarded.

I have to assume that Mr. Frederick did not report the breakins, if they occurred, because his need to keep the marijuana around was greater than his need to be safe.

I have to wonder if the informant was the burglar. Oh cripes, I hope he wasn't paid.

Yes it was earlier reported that the lower panels were broken in. If the threshold was crossed in any way by any part of a persons body through all or part of the door. That's when I would act on the options I considered in the short time i had to think them out. Whether or not that is the legal definition in Va, I think anytime after that I would be the one dead, during a home invasion. If i truly believed that was taking place.