Terry Gilbert is a civil rights attorney in Cleveland and a founding partner of the law firm Friedman, Gilbert & Gerhardstein. He is the author of “Trying Times, A Lawyer’s 50 Year Struggle for Rights in a World of Wrongs.”
The murder charge against Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb, who shot pregnant Ta’Kiya Young as she left a store parking lot, is a testament to her family’s years-long fight for justice.
It is also a warning to law enforcement that police officers are not above the law and that they can face serious consequences for criminal behavior.
For most families who have lost loved ones to excessive deadly force in Ohio and across the country, obtaining charges is not a common occurrence.
Retired Police Officer: The officer who shot Ta’Kiya Young has been charged. Use this moment to demand accountability.
Normally, criminal investigations into police misconduct go nowhere. But will the Franklin County grand jury’s decision be a sign that investigators and prosecutors are becoming more open to seeking charges against police? Will grand juries—comprised of ordinary citizens—set aside preconceptions that police can do no wrong and vote to hold police accountable for serious crimes?
More charges have been filed in recent years, but it is still difficult to prosecute police and obtain a conviction.
‘Accountability’ is not a dirty word
Following the killing of George Floyd, who was choked to death by a police officer in Minneapolis and is now serving a life sentence, a historic wave of protests against racist policing has emerged worldwide.
There is widespread demand for comprehensive reforms, including passing the stalled George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which requires nationwide training policies, and eliminating qualified immunity that can shield police from accountability.
For many, the concept of police accountability is no longer a bad word. It appears that the public is willing to accept reasonable and fair measures to make the police more accountable.
Ta’kiya’s shooting death was shocking and preventable.
Police standards forbid shooting at a vehicle, especially if the officer chooses to position himself in front of the vehicle. Blendon police charged that Ta’Kiya refused a command to exit her car due to an alleged shoplifting incident and suggested that Grubb’s use of deadly force was justified.
The disregard for Ta’Kiya Young’s life is downright scandalous
Shooting through the windshield for a slight forward movement is objectively unreasonable, if other safer alternatives were available. If there was ever a case that merited criminal charges, this is it. Apparently the grand jury agreed.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight, in a public place, where the officer was wearing a body camera that captured the tragic incident. It shows a blatant disregard for safety and protecting lives – the supposed backbone of policing. It begs the question of what kind of screening, training and oversight these officers received. The city itself should be held accountable, hopefully to be prosecuted in a potential civil case.
Robinson: Shoplifting should not have escalated to death in police shooting of Ta’Kiya Young
Too often, police work comes down to a us against them mentality, assuming that every encounter is potentially dangerous and that the person being stopped is planning something illegal.
Instead of a measured and professional approach using de-escalation tactics, some officers view uncooperative individuals as a serious threat; but sometimes the threat comes from the reckless actions of impatient and verbally abusive officers. One thing leads to another, and miscommunication and pent-up anger set in and all hell breaks loose. This often happens during vehicle stops, especially those involving people of color, as was the case in the tragic murder of Ta’Kiya.
Family feud far from over
While it is commendable that the Franklin County grand jury found Grubb guilty of the various charges in the indictment, the family and community will have to wait months, if not years, for a final verdict in the criminal trial.
During this trial, defense attorneys and the police union will vigorously defend themselves, using the media to argue that the charges are baseless.
Grubb is of course entitled to a fair trial, but under Ohio law, criminal defendants can waive a jury trial if they believe an elected judge (likely with the support of police) would respond more favorably than a civilian jury.
Nevertheless, this indictment is a monumental step in the pursuit of justice for Ta’Kiya’s family and accountability for the police.
Terry Gilbert is a civil rights attorney in Cleveland and a founding partner of the law firm Friedman, Gilbert & Gerhardstein. He is the author of “Trying Times, A Lawyer’s 50 Year Struggle for Rights in a World of Wrongs.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Murder charges filed against police officer in shooting of pregnant Ohio woman are just the beginning
