The Virginian-Pilot
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RYAN FREDERICK is no hero, no matter what they're saying about him on the Internet.
He's the 28-year-old Chesapeake man being held in the Jan. 17 shooting death of Detective Jarrod Shivers.
Shivers, 34, was executing a drug search warrant at Frederick's residence the night he was killed. According to police, the eight-year police veteran was hit in the arm and chest by a shot fired from inside the house.
In a jailhouse interview, Frederick said he was in bed when the police came to his door about 8:30 p.m. Awakened by his barking dogs, Frederick said, he thought his house was being invaded. He didn't know the police were the cause of the commotion, he said.
Even so, it's troubling that a man charged with first-degree murder - for allegedly killing a cop, no less - has generated an ardent fan club. If you Google "Ryan Frederick" and "Jarrod Shivers," you'll get more than 1,000 hits and an eye-opening lesson in wild Internet rumor-mongering and misplaced hero worship.
From his jail cell, Frederick has somehow morphed from an accused cop killer into an innocent victim.
Supporters of Frederick staged a demonstration outside the jail on Saturday. Some protesters carried "Free Ryan" signs.
Oh, please. Ryan Frederick is right where he belongs - in jail. Until the matter is adjudicated, anyway. Even so, some are begging the system to spring him, fueled by the half-truths and outright lies spreading through cyberspace that portray Frederick as a "drug war victim."
Unfortunately, this uninformed rush to judgment isn't confined to the blogosphere.
When was the last time you heard a defense lawyer, in a highly publicized murder case, no less, say that he does not want a change of venue?
"No, no, he has too much support here," said Frederick's attorney, James Broccoletti, when asked if he'd like the trial moved.
If it's unfair to have a jury pool skewed toward conviction, it should also be unfair to have one awash in sympathizers.
We can all agree that this is a sad and troubling case, one that raises serious questions about Chesapeake police procedures. Yet it raises equally vexing questions about the duties and responsibilities of private citizens who choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
The tragic part of this story is not that this young man is behind bars. He'll have his day in court. The true tragedy is that a young woman has been widowed. Three children are fatherless. And Chesapeake lost a cop in the line of duty.
Since the shooting, there's been a lot of grumbling about Virginia's drug laws and efforts to enforce them.
If you believe marijuana should be legal, call your state legislator and demand that it be decriminalized. Don't blame the cops for enforcing Virginia's laws.
I don't know if Ryan Frederick is guilty of murder or of anything else. Neither do you. None of us has all the facts.
So here's a thought: What do you say we all hold our fire until the defendant goes on trial?
Kerry Dougherty, (757) 446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net
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I wonder why the police have
I wonder why the police have to show up at night. How about just arresting him when he comes home from work? As far as "No Knock", how is he going to destroy Gro-Lights before opening the door? I was involved in an incident when the police called the house and asked the guy to come outside with his hands up. Everyone was calm. It's not like Ryan was a violent murderer. Of course he is accused of that now.
Fishy
The cops go to the home of a garden variety neer-do-well who doesn't always get his car inspected on time and who sometimes drives like half the other idiots in town. He got First Offender status on a previous marijuana possession case and apparently complied with the terms because it eventually got dismissed. Why do the cops risk their lives on a raid over any amount or type of drug? Let alone an unlikely scofflaw such as Ryan?
Ryan has been down to the courthouse before. He knows the deal. He apparently never fought or resisted the cops before, and he paid his fines before. If there were any kind of "alerts" attached to the warrant, why aren't the cops boasting about it? Killing a cop over marijuana? Unless he is seriously delusional, depressed, paranoid, and off his medications, you don't kill a cop over a marijuana bust, especially at your own front door!
On the other hand, try to convince me that the guy was scared for his life. South Norfolk. Some bad dudes outside, acting llke animals. Now you're making sense.
Tell it to the jury. If it ever gets that far.
RRC1943
Target ID issue: Frederick said, "I saw someone pushing through the bottom of my door and fired." Pushing through the bottom would only be possible if the door were broken...top intact, bottom not. Positive ID is an intruder pushing through the broken remnants of his door.
Lies: Numerous articles point out CPD didn't state how much pot was seized. As soon as CPD announced "marijuana" on the evidence list but refused to characterize quantity, they lied by omission. Amount still not released, but only charge is a misdemeanor. No comment on finding Japanese Maples/tomato plants another lie of omission. Saying Frederick "shot through the door" implies door was in one piece, but Frederick says he saw someone pushing through the bottom (indicating broken door). CPD said a couple detectives served the warrant, then prosecutor claimed 2 detectives and 14 officers w/cruisers. Witnessess support two detectives, no officers/cars. CPD claims police knocked and announced, but neighbors outside at the time didn't hear them.
CPD Procedures Flawed
How is it that the Newport News Police were able to snag over 80 people in a sweep of outstanding warrants - all without even a single shot fired or anyone being injured - yet the CPD can't even handle a single warrant against someone who's "criminal" track record only went as deep as traffic violations without gunfire, horrible death of an officer, and the appearance of a coverup? Maybe the CPD should attend some of Newport News Police Departmental training.
Great column
Bottom line: The police and Ryan Frederick both made mistakes. Ryan Frederick's mistake killed someobdy.
reponsibility to kno your target
I feel that every single person whether it a law inforcement , private citizen , has the reponsibility when they exercize the action to pick up a fire arm and pull the trigger , when the bullet leaves the barrel should be responsible , where that bullet is going to end up , right or wrong this person should have been %100 percent sure where that bullet was going to end up , and he should be accountable for this ,
Accountability
Wait for the facts? What kind of statement is that from a person at a newspaper staff? Fact is a person is dead; fact is another is locked up; fact is due to the inattention to details and non-corrective actions of the leaders of the CPD and the City of Chesapeake the above facts exist.
This entire tragedy would have been avoided if action was taken, instead of now after the fact deciding to look at policies, calling in a outsider to help cover up ill procedures and processes. Past practice of the CPD has shown over zealous raids and actions, for which the CPD management should be held responsible by lawsuit. Frederick’s non-existent prior record, informant misinformation, non-existent pot growing operation, and now even reports of neighbors contradicting the police. The list goes on. Sure have a trial, but it seems to be prosecutor overkill and basically just trying to tighten the screws, thereby taking the focus off the CPD's inattention to details, their past practices documenting this mentality that lead to this tragic event, and their accountability.
Rob
I disagree with you about "10 roaches or an ounce it didn't matter its still a crime".
You have got to be kidding? right??
Painfully we are going to find out no one did their homework on this raid and look what we have. Basically Police acted on someone's "statement" and if they had solid evidence and plants and grow lights and other stuff there we would know about it by now.
I expect two lawsuits in this issue. One from Frederick and one from Mrs. Shivers and both against the city of Chesapeake even though the money will never bring closure or repair.
Rob says....
Rob says: "Most Police officers dont drive cars with out lights and they are always flashing, and when it's dark they are very easy to see, and I know from personal experience, when I see flashing lights the first thing i do is look outside to see what's going on"
If u think for a moment that we r going to believe that u serve a drug warrant by showing up with lights and sirens blazing, u r seriously insulting our intelligence. U want the sneaky element of suprise. The last thing u want is for anyone to know u r coming. Hence, "no knock" warrants. Spare me...
Mr. Tabor is Right On!
While I don't always agree with you, Dr. Tabor, I certainly do on this one.