CHESAPEAKE
One of the biggest photos on the MySpace page created to support Ryan Frederick is not of him.
It's a large print of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Frederick, the site says, likes to watch "the Christian Channel," read "Christian Books" and wants to meet megachurch preacher Joel Osteen.
But Sheryl Morales, a woman who babysat Frederick and remains one of his closest relatives, described the 28-year-old as "precious and sweet" but "not real religious."
"I think that has to do with all the loss we've had in the family," she said.
What's clear is that Frederick has been charged with murdering a Chesapeake police officer.
On the night of Jan. 17, a police team converged on his home on Redstart Avenue after an informant told them Frederick was growing marijuana. Frederick, now charged with first-degree murder, insisted from jail last month that he thought he was shooting at a burglar.
Detective Jarrod Shivers was shot at Frederick's front door and died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The 34-year-old was a decorated narcotics officer and a father of three.
Officers are still in shock three weeks later, said Jack Bider, president of the Chesapeake Fraternal Order of Police and a friend of Shivers.
"Here we have a citizen, not only a citizen of Chesapeake, but a police officer trying to make a living, and this guy shoots through a door," Bider said. "Let's remove the police factor out of it. What if it was a Girl Scout knocking at his door on this cold and rainy night and she slips on his porch and falls onto the door? Is he going to shoot through the door then?"
While the officer's family and police mourn Shivers' death, debates swirl about police searches, confidential informants and the right to protect one's home.
Like the conflicting portrayals of his spiritual life, unearthing an accurate picture of Ryan David Frederick's past - and the circumstances leading to the death of a policeman on his doorstep - is complicated.
Perhaps the first thing people notice about Frederick is his size. A ticket he received in December for running a red light in Suffolk listed him at 5 feet 7 inches tall and 120 pounds.
"He was always the smallest guy in the class," Morales said.
As a child and into adulthood, Frederick suffered from intestinal problems that made him vomit and bleed. Doctors put him on liquid diets and ran tests but never diagnosed the cause, according to his sister and only sibling, Amanda Frederick Arakelyan, 25. Still, Frederick enjoyed an active childhood in his working-class South Norfolk neighborhood, Morales said. He played baseball, took tae kwon do classes and played video games with his best friend.
His father, Dale Frederick, was a carpenter and was not small like his son, the aunt said. A chronic illness, one Morales did not disclose, cut Dale Frederick's life short. He didn't want to die in a hospital, so he spent the last two years of his life at home, Morales said. He died in 1992, in the one-story home in the 900 block of Redstart Ave.
Frederick's mother, Karen, once worked two jobs to support the family, managing a Long John Silver's and tending bar, Morales said.
Ryan Frederick seemed to share his mother's work ethic. When he was 12, he rode with his grandfather delivering newspapers. In high school he worked at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center, where he helped set up and work banquets.
Jeff Tibbitt, a former co-worker at the hotel, recalled Frederick as "a real kinda guy," somebody who seemed genuinely interested in others and didn't talk about himself much.
"He got along with everybody," Tibbitt said. "He was one of my favorite people to work with because he was fun to talk to."
His personality, looks and smile made him popular with girls, Tibbitt said.
The 1995 yearbook at Oscar Smith High School lists Frederick as a sophomore, but he graduated in 1998, school records show.
Outside the classroom, he worked his way up at the hotel to banquet setup manager, a position in which he coordinated rooms for events and made sure they had the necessary materials, Tibbitt said. His mother, sister and aunt sometimes worked there.
Tibbitt said he knew Frederick sometimes smoked marijuana.
"Several people dabbled in that kind of stuff," Tibbitt said. "He didn't seem like a stoner when I was working with him.... He got there on time. It didn't seem to affect his performance."
Frederick told The Virginian-Pilot he didn't sell or grow marijuana, but that he had a small bag of it. Twelve days after his arrest on charges of murder and use of a firearm in a crime, Frederick was charged with first-offense possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, based on what police found at the home.
Tibbitt, who last worked with Frederick around 2005, said he never knew him to sell the drug.
In March 2003, Frederick's mother died from an overdose of medication that a doctor had prescribed to her for back problems. The loss devastated Frederick, who discovered his mother's body in her bed, Morales said.
The doctor, Sidney Loxley, was later convicted in federal court of conspiracy to illegally dispense narcotics and was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison. Frederick and his sister sued. The case was terminated early last year, but the court record does not give a reason.
With his mother gone, Frederick stayed in the family home and held close to his grandmother, Norma Young, who lived about a mile away. He'd stop by after work and take out her trash, Morales said. Young hated football, but she knew her grandson loved the Washington Redskins, so she'd watch games to have something to talk to him about, Morales said.
Neighbors along Redstart Avenue called Frederick friendly, quiet and polite. He sometimes had a few friends over around the pool in his backyard, but little traffic moved in and out of the house, said Laurie and Jon McReynolds, who live two doors away.
"He was a very passive, timid guy," Laurie McReynolds said.
Jon McReynolds said that by the time he left for work at 4:30 a.m., Frederick was usually gone to his new job as a merchandiser setting up store displays for a soft drink company. A search of criminal records in Hampton Roads turns up only traffic violations for Frederick. The most serious is a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in 2004 for going 79 mph in a 55 mph zone.
In his spare time, Frederick worked on his garden, a hobby he learned from his late grandfather, Morales said. He dug a new pond for fish this past year, grew banana trees and was learning to grow Japanese maples.
Frederick spoke to The Virginian-Pilot and a local TV station within a week of the shooting, but his attorney, James Broccoletti, cut off media interviews with his client and told those close to him not to talk to reporters.
Frederick's fiancee, his best friend and his sister - all among the members of the MySpace page created to support him - did not respond to interview requests.
His sister, Amanda Frederick Arakelyan, provided some insight into the past few years of her brother's life, however, through documents she posted online to support her attempt to get her husband, a native of Armenia, into the United States.
In January 2006, Frederick's grandmother died, and his sister had just moved to Armenia to be with her husband. It was a difficult time for Frederick, according to Arakelyan's application, which describes her brother's troubles as one of the main reasons she, along with her husband, needed to return to the United States. The document said Frederick was diagnosed with depression.
"Since (Frederick's) sister has left he is finding it increasingly difficult to pay all of his bills and needs his sister present to help him," the application said.
The MySpace page created for Frederick by his friends says he "tends to be startled easily." He told The Virginian-Pilot someone had broken into his garage three days before the police raid, and he feared for his life when he awoke and heard his dogs barking at his door the night of Jan. 17.
"They're going like really crazy, so I grab my gun," he said. "As I'm walking through the hall, someone comes busting through my door."
A police spokeswoman said the officers wore badges and helmets marked "POLICE" and announced their presence at the door. Frederick said he didn't hear anyone say "police" or see identification.
Before his arrest, Frederick was determined to keep the family house on Redstart Avenue, Morales said. He got engaged and wanted to raise his own family there, she said.
Now a large white sign stands outside his yellow home trimmed in brown. It says "We support you Ryan Frederick," and it's collecting signatures.
But Bider, of the Fraternal Order of Police, still thinks about Shivers.
"It's going to live with us for the rest of our lives," he said. "You can't shoot through a door."
Staff writer John Hopkins contributed to this story.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5122 dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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Just disgusting to read some of these comments
Look, if Ryan Frederick is telling the truth, I have a certain amount of sympathy for him. He was scared and he reacted badly. But he is responsible for his actions.
I see people calling the Chesapeake police officers "gestapos." I see people making the ridiculous claim that police officers tell private citizens to shoot blindly when they're scared and not worry about the consequences. I see people referring to Ryan Frederick as a "law-abiding citizen," even though he was using illegal drugs (whether or not he was growing them or selling them). I see people saying that the police should have come at "a reasonable hour" (they did) and knocked first (they did). I see people shouting "cover-up" and "smoke and mirrors" and stuff like that with no basis in fact. I see people saying that even if the person on the other side of the door identifies himself as police, you should shoot him anyway because he might just be an intruder who's lying.
I have no doubt that the police made mistakes here, but at the same time I have no reason whatsoever to think they are lying when they say they announced themselves as cops and were wearing clothing that clearly said POLICE.
Jersey, Homeowners House Damaged BY CPD
Concerning the woman who's house was damaged by the police. You do know, that the homeowner claimed to have a restraining order against the murder suspect, do you not? To keep him away from her underage daughter. If this is true, legally, this woman may have a pretty good case. If the suspect was there, & I'm not even sure of that, she may very well be protected from any liability whatsoever, as long as she didn't invite him over. That seems unlikely if she legally ordered him to stay away.
Get em metalmike "we shall never surrender" Winston Churchill
hey jersey...i got my info
hey jersey...i got my info straight out of the viginian pilot so call
them a liar. and my intelligence would eclipse yours, pal.
Ryan Frederick
It's very tragic but a far stretch to call this murder. Look how many home invasions have been in the news in the last few months. This guy had no criminal history and they just go on the word of some informant( who's probably being paid for info) and bust in somebody's house in the middle of the night. Couldn't they have just gone at a decent hour and just knocked on the door. Like the other guy said....Was he gonna flush a whole crop of pot before they could get in, not hardly. Poor planning , no follow up by police. The man was a law abiding citizen with no criminal past. AND can somebody please tell me why is he still sitting in jail? Why can't he be released until his trial? I feel sorry for the family but I have to say I would have shot too if someone was breaking in my house. This case is a tradgedy but by no means should he be charged with murder. They only found a small bag of pot, cop lost his life for nothing, Tragic but not murder.
contractor
Yeah, and we all now know the defense for shooting your wife is that you were shooting cans off of her head. LOL
Safety
The United State Supreme Court has maintained that the police and/or government is not responsible for your safety. The only person responsible for your safety is YOU. The police department is unfortunately where you call after you have become a victim. Choose not be a willing victim, excercise your rights to own and carry a weapon. Defend yourself and just as said earlier, let them fill out the paperwork.
Point Well Taken Ira
Yeah, I know he was not considered a model citizen, but aside from his person problems, such as opiate addictions, questionable relationships, aberrant behavior, or whatever, he was a hell of a writer. Ive read publications by & about people a lot more notorious than him. I quote anyone to suit my purpose whether I admire them personally or not. If I cant find a quote to fit, I sometimes invent them, and tag them author unknown, which technically is true. "God forbid, that I alone, among all who are worthy of such notice, should have a critic" author unknown LOL
Ps.
Burroughs also went to Harvard, just like Obama. Zoinks!
Contractorva
I know we are on the same side on this subject however I need to point something out to you. William Burroughs was a lifelong addict, paedophile, and pedophile. He shot his wife in the head while supposedly shooting objects off of the top of her head for fun. He may not be the best person to quote while touting gun ownership rights.
Ok
"For all you people complaining about the how the police conduct themselves, don't ask for them when you are in trouble." -quote from one of those NJ people-
So you are saying that if we are not willing to forgo the use of our right of free speech, then we should not be offered police protection? If that is the case I really do not see the point of having police protection. If I have to keep my mouth shut ,then I have really given up all of my rights anyway. I would in fact be a prisoner. Do you attend the Chinese democracy school or something?
March/Rally in support of Ryan!!
LET THE CHESAPEAKE GESTAPO HEAR
OUR CRY FOR FREEDOM!
MARCH/RALLY
To free Ryan Frederick
February 23, 2008
10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Chesapeake Correctional Center
400 Albemarle Drive
Chesapeake, Virginia
Bring cameras. Video cameras. Television cameras, if we can engineer it. We need every minute of this documented on video and audio.
Don't Call The Police?
I have read a lot of comments from contributors that basically say if you are not satisfied with police performance, then, don't call them. At least one of these contributors have even claimed to be a law enforcement officer. Don"t call them? I live in South Norfolk...I have them on speed dial! “After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. I sure as hell wouldn't want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and the military.”
William S. Burroughs
Tragic on multiple levels . . .
First of all, those would need to be some tough ghetto Girl Scouts to be beating down doors after dark in South Norfolk. . . wow.
Second, the .380 ACP isn't a very powerful cartridge. Hard to believe it would penetrate a door and hit an officer standing on the lawn in the one spot on his torso the vest failed to protect, retaining enough energy to inflict a fatal wound. "Magic bullet?" Unlikely. More likely this might've been the result of an accidental discharge by a fellow officer.
Do not understand why they didn't just knock on the door? What, is he gonna flush an entire crop of pot plants down the toilet?
It's a shame this frail young man is currently locked in a cage with a bunch of criminal deviants . . . I certainly hope someone is checking up on him.
A horrible tragedy.... continued
I can't believe they "edited" my 1st post and deleted my 2nd post to fit their 750 word limit! The remainder of my post concerned the CPD's inability to do adequate follow up regarding the informant because of understaffing and inadequate funding. The sad thing is the only reason we have locks on our doors is to keep honest people out. Had this happened at my home that night I can pretty much guarantee that I would be in jail also. My sincere condolences to the family and the officers that lost a brother in arms that night. These are just my thoughts on a horrible tragedy and it was not my intent to engage in discussion of some pretty lame theories. Girl Scouts falling on doors? Really....
I went to school with Ryan's
I went to school with Ryan's sister and my brother hung out with Ryan so I am one that is having a hard time dealing with this case. It would appear that there are still so many answers that have gone unanswered and that the police department is just trying to cover their butts. I for one would like to see this confidential informant in court testifying considering that this whole matter really is evolved around them. I can understand both sides to the story but also feel that this was a freak accident that could have been dealt with a little better. I will say though that I support Ryan Frederick 100 percent and feel that though a life has been lost which I am sympathetic with the family should get a slap on the wrist because if you come busting down my door while i'm sleeping i'd shoot too.
Good advice for Metalmike
Metalmike, first off when they said they would do it the same exact way they don't mean with the officer dying. Warrants are served like that all of the time. Except this one time all of the factors involved led to what we have. If you don't know how many warrants are served the answer is a lot and people usually don't come to the door!!! Take a guess what there doing since your so intelligent! Decisions were made and we have what we have now. As the comments read just below this one, wait until you have all of the facts before you comment as I said 3 times already. If you have the facts wrong you sound like an idiot to everyone that knows what happen that night! Wait for the case to go to trial then comment... If you need something to do comment on the fires in Chesapeake or something! And for the lady that got her house damaged by the SWAT team, they were looking for someone that shot and killed someone! Someone that was at that house but left... Note to self; don't let people that are wanted for murder in your home.
O.T.L.
Jack Bider is out to lunch with his "Girl Scout on a cold rainy night" analogy. Girl Scouts aren't out pedaling cookies on a cold, rainy night, or any night for that matter, but street thugs doing a home invasion would be a distinct possibility. But it wasn't street thugs breaking down Ryan's door, it was a group of overzealous, misinformed Chesapeake police, and it's a shame that a life was lost because of the poor intelligence used to justify this raid.
The prosecution wouldn't want me on this jury.
Something's not right...
I know a few Chesapeake Police Officers, and I still call them friends, but I smell a rat in this whole thing. Something went wrong, and somebody isn't talking. I think the drug raid was a setup, and the CPD was used for someone's personal vendetta. Maybe not a police officer's vendetta, but perhaps by a former co-worker or just someone who didn't like Ryan. In any case, this whole thing stinks.
I live in Oklahoma, and grew up in Chesapeake. I recently had someone try to break into my house. After nerves were calmed and breathing was restored, I asked the police who responded what to do next time. The response? "Shoot first. We'll handle the paperwork." They have the same policy...they almost shot me because I was dumb enough to fly out of my front door with my weapon. State law and city ordinance...deadly force can be used to protect life or property. That comes from the Lawton PD. I drove a wrecker throughout South Norfolk...maybe Chesapaeke PD needs to do some reevaluating.
End rant.
when are bboks illegal?!?
it sure did take the cpd to inform the public of the amount...i know they were VERY hesitant about doing that, when i heard the amount finally, i was'nt surprised, but they tried to make it look worse by "confiscating" smoking paraphinilia, lights (what, a light blub?) books(?!?)a tv.,(i REALLY dont get this...) and a shoe. a shoe. unbelievable...
The CPD mess
"For all you people complaining about the how the police conduct themselves, don't ask for them when you are in trouble." Yes, we do have a BIG problem with the way the handled this situation. Are you that blind?
To Mr. Bider - The girl scout comment was about the most stupid thing that I have ever read!! Please THINK before opening your mouth.
To the leaders of the CPD, you're YOU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS!!
To the family of Detective Jarrod Shivers, you’re in my prayers.
To Ryan Frederick – Seems like you have more then a few people on your side. Stay strong.
I would give anything to be on this jury!
BobinGermany
I am going to reserve my comments about this case until all facts are known. I believe both sides can agree that they are not. However I am tired of seeing uninformed comments from both side that have no legal significance and are sometimes just wrong. For example BobinGermany's astute albeit observation that you can not shoot someone on the street that makes you scared....granted to the ignorant poster(bob) this may seem true. However if you take your time to research an element of self defense using deadly force is fear. Simply put without the fear of ones life or limb you can not use deadly force. So yes you can shoot someone who is scaring you...there has to be other elements involved but factually if you are not scared you can not shoot. So just everyone please if you make a comment try to use a small bit of intelligence before you type.
Ever Since This Tragedy..
..took place, I keep reading and also hearing about the mysterious .223 round. Mr. Frederick had a .380 in his possesion. Some here have alluded that CPD used this as a training mission. If there was a "newby" on the team and they rushed the door seconds after the breach, a round might have been discharged during the "push"? Autopsy reports anyone? Still, very tragic for the community as a whole.
admit your mistake, cpd!
i read in an article earlier that they would do the procedure
the SAME EXACT way again if they had to. i hope he realises that he
would AGAIN have a dead officer, and for nothing. NOTHING.i can smell foul play in this bigtime. a break in 3 days earlier, most likely when he was'nt home (of course) he comes home to discover the break in, he is spooked up until he thinks it's the same peope again. their informant is a liar. what about the womans house that got destroyed by a swat raid looking for that young muderer? he was'nt even there. who's paying for her repairs? have they even begin any work yet? if we can't protect our families or property at night when the door is being BROKE IN by using a firearm then we're ALL in trouble. i'm sure he had it legally also, that will be known i'm sure.
Antidentites?
I thought it was a joke, from the Seinfeld Episode. But apparently antidentites really do exist. As to TidewaterLiberty.com, I went to the site, and thought it was pretty cool.. If anyone alive still hasn't seen all the Seinfeld episodes.. then Google the word. It comes up with a definition. "once the word is spoken, it becomes vocabulary" author unknown
For all you people
For all you people complaining about the how the police conduct themselves, don't ask for them when you are in trouble.
Bob
Some issues cannot be addressed in the 700 character limit the Pilot sets for its blog, so I have established a Libertarian Blog where those issues can be addressed in detail, and include that location for those who want more. If you aren't interested, don't go.
Secondly, how do you know Mr. Frederick fired through his door? There has been no account given here or anywhere else by the surviving officer who was there. The only police accounts have been by officers who were not there. Mr. Frederick has said he fired on an unidentified figure crawling into the house through the shattered lower panels of his door. Was he supposed to wait and let the intruder have first shot?
I very much want to believe that the police have done no wrong, but it is clear they are withholding pertinent facts from the public, such as the source of that .223 case, and they are creating at least the appearance of a cover-up.
Ryan was defending against an unknown threat
Elizabeth: save us from your idle wonderings. Go back and read the early reports that clearly itemize the things seized from Frederick’s home. Personally, I think the CI thought the Japanese maples were marijuana plants.
Bretticus: your comment on ronw’s comments dignified them.
Wspeid: your lesson is much like elizabeth’s: satisfy your curiosity by reading some early reports that clearly describe what the police were wearing.
Charlie99: thank you for schooling the people on the timeframe issue. On the other hand, “…it could’ve been anyone…” isn’t feasible regardless of the timeframe. I don’t care if it’s high noon. “Anyone else” – girl scouts, goldilocks or the paper boy – wouldn’t be pounding on the front door with the force to splinter it unless they were up to no good. Oh, or executing a search warrant.
Liability
Past practices of the CPD. What other city runs around bashing in front doors of suspected pot plant growers based on one informant? Also what other city invades a home and shoots up the mattresses that her children used to sleep on? They knew the person they were looking for had not even been at this house. These and other past practices are really giving the city a dim view by the public and even fellow law enforcement officers as stated in various articles related to this topic. The city is liable; even as they try and do the cover up shuffle it is there in plain sight to see. I really do feel sorry for the widow and children...such loss, but I also feel sorry for the young man though, who obviously was not doing what the informant, police, judge...warrant said he was doing...this is just tragic all the way around. This city needs a serious lawsuit, not some hired analyzer to help keep them from being sued...look at the results of business as usual...a husband and father...dead...a young man in jail.
Quit knocking....
the dentist. Not long after this whole horrible story came out I posted on Pilotonline that I felt bad for both the officer and the kid being charged with murder. There are two sides to this story. I just hope the right one comes out in the trial. My gut instinct is there's some sort of coverup and this kid was a victim of his own fear and experience and the officer died from it. Time will tell. But Lord God Almighty I do not want someone INNOCENT to go to prison or be given the death sentence -- which is what things are starting to look like with a prosecutor being retained from another area.
This whole thing is a mess and makes all of us argue and be nasty. Just remember, there are 2 sides. This is one precarious situation.
A horrible tragedy.....
resulting in the loss of a honorable man doing a job he loved. The real story about what happened will probably never come out. I have lived in the South Norfolk area for 15 years and I can tell you home invasions in this area are a fact of life. What really needs to come out is the circumstances in which the "informant(s)" information was accepted as credible. I can tell you from personal experience that my home was burglarized by a bunch of kids so stupid that they left their car parked in my front yard. They were easy to catch.... but they told the police they were breaking into my house for booze, money, and drugs. They were never charged and released to their parents. Within a week I had police all over my house with a warrant because they had an "informant" that proveded credible information that I was a drug dealer. How much do you want to bet that they caught the person(s) responsible for breaking into Ryan's home and they fingered him to be the drug dealer to get a break. Why couldn't the Police have followed him home from work and serve the warrent when he pulled into his driveway?