BURLINGTON — Two Lee County sheriff’s deputies who shot a suspect during an undercover drug investigation in Burlington were cleared Monday of any wrongdoing after an Alamance County grand jury declined to indict them. The grand jury “determined that there was no criminal negligence involved” in the shooting of Jose Antonio Morales by Capt. John Holly and Sgt.Brian Estes, both members of the department’s drug enforcement team, according to a press release by Alamance County District Attorney Robert Johnson. Morales was shot on Jan. 10 after an undercover drug investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office led them into Alamance County. During that operation, Sgt. Charles Dew of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was working undercover and attempting to buy a kilogram of cocaine from Morales, as well as suspects Jean Christopher Jerez and Marcus Lee Thompson. Dew was shot in the leg during the exchange and deputies swarmed the area. While Thompson and Jerez were apprehended immediately, Morales ran and was eventually shot by Holly and Estes.“Morales was commanded several times by pursuing deputies to halt and surrender. Morales was observed to run behind a tree where it appeared he had something in his hands concealed in front of him,” the press release reads. “As Morales began to turn in the direction facing the pursuing law enforcement officers, Holly and Estes ... fired their handguns. Morales was struck in the right temple, with the bullet exiting from his right eye.” Morales later recovered and all three suspects are awaiting trial in Alamance County.Dew also recovered from his wound and continues to work as a drug agent for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Lee County Sheriff Trace Carter said Monday night he was happy to see his deputies cleared. “I’m pleased with the outcome of the investigation, and I’m pleased that the investigation was so thorough,” Carter said. “The district attorney of Alamance County wanted to make sure the public was aware there was no wrong doing.”
Lee County Deputies Cleared of Any Wrong Doing
BURLINGTON — Two Lee County sheriff’s deputies who shot a suspect during an undercover drug investigation in Burlington were cleared Monday of any wrongdoing after an Alamance County grand jury declined to indict them. The grand jury “determined that there was no criminal negligence involved” in the shooting of Jose Antonio Morales by Capt. John Holly and Sgt.Brian Estes, both members of the department’s drug enforcement team, according to a press release by Alamance County District Attorney Robert Johnson. Morales was shot on Jan. 10 after an undercover drug investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office led them into Alamance County. During that operation, Sgt. Charles Dew of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was working undercover and attempting to buy a kilogram of cocaine from Morales, as well as suspects Jean Christopher Jerez and Marcus Lee Thompson. Dew was shot in the leg during the exchange and deputies swarmed the area. While Thompson and Jerez were apprehended immediately, Morales ran and was eventually shot by Holly and Estes.“Morales was commanded several times by pursuing deputies to halt and surrender. Morales was observed to run behind a tree where it appeared he had something in his hands concealed in front of him,” the press release reads. “As Morales began to turn in the direction facing the pursuing law enforcement officers, Holly and Estes ... fired their handguns. Morales was struck in the right temple, with the bullet exiting from his right eye.” Morales later recovered and all three suspects are awaiting trial in Alamance County.Dew also recovered from his wound and continues to work as a drug agent for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Lee County Sheriff Trace Carter said Monday night he was happy to see his deputies cleared. “I’m pleased with the outcome of the investigation, and I’m pleased that the investigation was so thorough,” Carter said. “The district attorney of Alamance County wanted to make sure the public was aware there was no wrong doing.”
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment