Chesapeake man faces questionable capital murder charge

I used to think the same way you do...until someone I knew was charged with a crime. I have since noticed things like a confessed criminal breaking into someones house and after admitting his crime to police, convincing them the drugs he found are worth overlooking his illegal act that brought them the info to begin with (and Shivers died). About ten days later in nearby Portsmouth, another would-be thief suffered a change of heart. The would-be thief called Portsmouth PD after breaking into a home and finding a "large pot growing operation." Unlike Frederick's house, this thief was right...there was a sophisticated hydroponics system and dozens of pot plants. We know because media were given immediate access to the site before the plants were removed for evidence (reporters even interviewed the would-be thief). Two different thieves conduct separate break-ins into two homes within miles of each other within 10 days and turn up alleged pot growing ops they report to two police departments? Such a deal! The thieves get rich, avoid prosecution and trash the 4th Amendment in one act and the police get probable cause without conducting lengthy investigations. Let's hope more th

"Those who prefer freedom need to stand up for it here." I totally agree. This case is an opportunity for citizens in you community to stand up for freedom. Those who do not believe this man is being charged properly should protest the prosecutorial abuse. Over-charging an offense is a way for prosecutors to unfairly weight the process to obtain an unjust verdict. That way the penalty for the crime charged is so serious that the defendant does not dare risk a trial an pleads guilty without being guilty. It is an ugly abusive trait of fascist courts. It has become commonplace in America and it is wrong. If people in you community care about justice this is a chance to speak out. Ou judicial system has become a rubber-stamp for prosecutors; convicting the innocent with the guilty and convicting those guilty of minor offenses with major crimes. Everyone who pays taxes covers the cost of this excess; everyone who walks on the street lives at increased risk of being the victim of the rage that injustice inspires. If anyone cares, here's a chance to act, Joey Tranchina

The way I see it, criminals have too many rights as compared to victims and society as a whole. While I believe it is better to let a guilty person go free than to incarcerate an innocent person, victim rights cannot be ignored. I believe the restraints imposed on the police are sufficient to protect the freedoms we cherish the most. Additional restraints would force americans to hide in fear with the police helpless to protect them from the criminal element. Who do you want to determine how much freedom you have? Trained professionals or criminals? Ryan took a life, that is not in dispute. Let a jury decide if it was justified, and if not, what degree of punishment should be imposed. The Grand Jury did it's job. It only had to find probable cause and only had 1 side of the story(and most likely, not all there is to that side). The prosecution does not have to present it's entire case, only enough to reach probable cause.

That's exactly the point! People who care about freedom know that there's not anywhere for us to move to. The U.S. is the last, best hope for freedom in the world, and if it's in jeopardy here, then we can't run; we've got to do everything we can to preserve it here. Those who want to live in a country where the government has unfettered power and decides what rights you will have, and who gets to exercise them can choose from many places to live. Those who prefer freedom need to stand up for it here.

What an absurd comment. Why do some people refuse to face a fact on its face or deal with the reality behind it. Liberty in America is in terrible jeopardy. We are leaving our children at the mercy of a police state (where the police have far too much power and citizens have too few protections from abuse) The inappropriate (excessively serious) charges against this citizen are a clear example of the kind of prosecutorial abuse that a police state uses. To tell me to go live in Russia, So. Africa or China does not address America's problem; it simply attempts to obscure our problem in a childish manner. In fact, I have worked and lived in Russia and in So. Africa; I was in no way putting them forward as models of liberty, only pointing out that when it comes to incarceration America is far worse than either of them. That is a statistical fact. It is also a matter of great cruelty & too-often injustice. Also, in point of fact, I do live in Europe most of the year, where I am much freer socially than I am in America (though not economically). I actually prefer living in Europe, but I have not given up on my country. I am a citizen and I retain the right to speak my mind and repor

...that have been saying that we, "should not be so quick to believe conspiracy theories until all the information is out," don't understand. Those of us that know Mr Frederick through work, family and friends know that when he told his story to the news, that was everything he knew and that he told the truth. That is why you are seeing such outrage from the community in his case. If he really were a hardened criminal you wouldn't see so many folks coming to his defense.

Hallelujah and Amen!

IF the facts are as you presented them, these are my comments:

Anyone who breaks into a citizens home in the middle of the night deserves to be shot. That is not a criminal act, if a citizen has any rights at all. The fact that "a little bit of marijuana was found" is not a pretext for such a home invasion; the fact that the thug had a badge is no excuse.

"You don't know what the special prosecutor knows..." is an argument for the star chamber.

You live in a country with a higher percentage of citizens in prison that Nazi Germany or contemporary Russia, China or South Africa. Stop kidding yourselves. Liberty is lost in American because a generation of cowards and fools have accepted this sort of behavior on the part of the police to protect us from drugs, which are now everywhere. The justifications for this sort of outrage is the voice of slaves justifying slavery.

American is not merely unfree it has become pathetically complicit in its own enslavement, while paying taxes for the privilege of being victimized. I'd challenge American citizens to wake up but it's probably too late. You don' have the legal right to protect yourselves.... just keep praying for fasc

I agree, except you seem to have made up your mind, michaelc23657. Where is your need to see more information, after all, using your words, Mr. Ryan is a "killer."

Can we say hypocrite...

Yesterday a cop was chasing an unarmed man in a parking garage at Town Center and "his firearm discharged". Granted, he didn't hit the suspect, but a gun doesn't mysteriously fire itself. He won't face any discipline for shooting at an unarmed suspect but police can kick in the door of the home of a citizen with a clean record while he sleeps, and somehow the man is charged with a premeditated murder for shooting... This country is no longer for the people.

The CPD? The prosecutor? The media? Frederick? The public?

I think everyone might calm down a bit if the CPD or the prosecutor would just tell the public, "We have much more information regarding this case that we cannot discuss at this time". I have to believe that they do, but no one has ever said that. All we have is what the media is saying, and it's a very biased story.

"This is a classic case of speaking based on little knowledge of the facts." This statement is usually followed by the poster who made it going on to do the exact same thing they r complaining of.
"None of us, including the Pilot editorial staff"
Or u. "we have heard only the lame excuses from the defendant"
Care to elaborate on the "lameness" that so many others see as reasonable? "while the prosecutor cannot publicize information that may be prejudicial to his case." Without a gag order, prosecutors do it all the time so your claim is false. "Since when does the manner in which a raid was conducted justify someone's reckless use of a firearm?"
Who r u to determine "reckless use of a firearm"? U werent there either.
"That is a totally fallacious analysis." This coming from someone who is indeed doing the exact same thing they r whining about. "Before passing judgment on the prosecutor, and before sympathizing with the killer"
Oh this is getting more funny by the sentence. "we need to wait for the facts to come out." U mean like youre doing? Huh? "If it was wrong to charge Frederick with capital murder, a jury who hears all of the fa

Remember, you are INNOCENT until proven guilty, so to keep calling Ryan a "killer" as if he meant for this to happen just isn't right. He has just as much right to prove what he says happened is the truth. Just because the police made claims to his guilt based on the word of a CRIMINAL does NOT mean Ryan is guilty. I believe this is a sad case that could have been avoided if the police had not been so eager to invade his home based on the informant Steven's word, someone who has a grudge against Ryan and who has a history of trying to "get even" with people. I believe that is exactly what is going on here as well.

The CPD and prosecution obviously has made a mess and are creating a bigger mess by using a smokescreen; the intent to manufacture a marijuana. It's also obvious that the prosecution needs to use this charge to add some credibility to the case. Hopefully the judge and jury will see through this folly. The CPD contributed to this officer's death as much as the person who fired weapon.

This is a classic case of speaking based on little knowledge of the facts. None of us, including the Pilot editorial staff, knows what the special prosecutor knows - we have heard only the lame excuses from the defendant, while the prosecutor cannot publicize information that may be prejudicial to his case. And since when does a more horrible situation in another case merit leniency in the one under consideration? Since when does the manner in which a raid was conducted justify someone's reckless use of a firearm? That is a totally fallacious analysis. Before passing judgment on the prosecutor, and before sympathizing with the killer, we need to wait for the facts to come out. If it was wrong to charge Frederick with capital murder, a jury who hears all of the facts will decide that. Let's not try this case on the pages of the paper before it even gets started.

This report has been mentioned in the news. It's been said that it will not be released to the public. Is it subject to the "freedom of information act"?. Who's to say that exculpatory evidence does not exist therein..