Audio By Carbonatix
The attorney for the Phoenix police officer accused of fatally shooting a domestic violence suspect tells New Times an officer who witnessed the shooting is a liar.
Craig Mehrens, the attorney for Officer Richard Chrisman, says information in a secondary police report is inconsistent with information provided by Officer Sergio Vergillo — the other officer at the scene, who witnessed the shooting.
“We already know he’s lying,” Mehrens says. “Officer Vergillo’s version doesn’t even make sense. If there was no threat, as he claims, why did he call for back up.”
If you’re unfamiliar with the case, click here. It’s nuts. Based on the initial report, it sounds like Chrisman just went berserk and shot an unarmed man and his dog.
In the initial police report, Officer Vergillo claims Chrisman held a
gun to the head of the victim, 29-year-old Daniel Rodriquez, after
Rodriquez told him he needed a warrant to be in his house.
“I don’t need no warrant, motherfucker,” Vergillo says Chrisman told Rodriquez, while holding a gun to his head.
Mehrens says that never happened.
“I don’t know why people lie,” Mehrens says.
That’s interesting — coming from a lawyer, and all.
Vergillo is also accused of shooting Rodriquez’s dog, even though
Vergillo says the animal was barking but had not attacked anyone.
Mehrens says the secondary report explains that “a large pit bull became
aggressive.” He says the animal was a threat and that’s why Chrisman
shot it — even though it hadn’t attacked anyone.
Chrisman’s been charged with aggravated assault. Members of the Latino
community have demanded Chrisman be charged with murder and plan to
protest Phoenix Police headquarters every night for the next week.
