84° RAIN, NAACP Asks for Inquiry In Death
Last Modified: Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 10:18 a.m.
DUNDEE | The five Polk County branches of the NAACP have asked the U.S. Justice Department to conduct an independent investigation of the April 10 police shooting death of Tyrone Hawkins.
"Based upon our review of the investigation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff Department, criminal charges should have been brought against this officer," said Donnie Allen, president of the Bartow branch and a spokesperson for the group. "At minimum, he should be terminated from the job."
Dundee Police Officer Nicholas "Nick" Burns, 22, was put on paid administrative leave after the shooting but returned to duty in mid-May after a Polk County grand jury found that "the evidence presented is insufficient to support a criminal homicide charge."
Allen said he personally reviewed the investigation files. "There are many, many questions that didn't get answered in this investigation," he said. "We did not believe this shooting was justified.
"This officer is a danger to the community," Allen said. "This shooting was senseless, without provocation and appears to be just a plain execution of this young man."
Dundee officials could not be reached for comment.
Hawkins, 31, of 218 Shepard Ave., Dundee, who was suspected of stealing lawn furniture from a display outside the Winn-Dixie store on U.S. 27, was shot six times by Burns, according to a file in the State Attorney's Office.
Burns and his supervisor, Cpl. Ralph Marshall, had responded to a call from the store manager about 11:40 p.m. about a suspicious SUV that had been circling the parking lot. Reports said a newspaper carrier had alerted the manager earlier about thefts from an outside display.
After stopping the SUV, Burns questioned Hawkins, while Marshall talked to the store manager. Reports said Burns spotted a box in the back of the Chevrolet Suburban that contained a popup canopy, similar to ones in the display.
When Hawkins got back in the truck and attempted to flee, Burns tried to stop him by removing the keys from the ignition, reports said. Hawkins started to drive off, with Burns partially in the vehicle.
Burns told investigators he was afraid and knew the bullets were "coming from me," but he doesn't recall the details of unholstering his pistol or firing it.
This story appeared in print on page B1
Next Article in Columnists
-
Fay Provides Perfect Boost for Area Lakes
Tropical Storm Fay proved to be the perfect storm for the Kissimmee Chain and lakes in southeast Polk County.
Fishermen always hope for tropical systems that bring a lot of rain and little wind, because they always improve fishing. Not only ...
Events Calendar More Events Submit Event
- Deputy Fires on Escaping Burglary Suspect
- Fay May Come Back Another Day
- Polk County Woman Claims Lotto Jackpot
- Lakeland Businesses Decry Rent Increases
- Upcoming Local Tournaments
- FHP Accident Report For Polk County
- Lakeland Crime Map
- Detectives Investigating Homicide Near Haines City
- No Bond For Man Accused In Road Rage Attack
- WEIRD NEWS: Pot Found Stashed in Entertainment Centers at Border
- Breaking: Fire Destroys Vacant Winter Haven Home 39 min ago
- Breaking: FHP Accident Report For Polk County 46 min ago
- Breaking: Little Rain For Polk But More Likely Today 1 hr ago
- ‘Be Like Aquaman’ 5 hrs ago
- Bottling Plan Pushes Groundwater to Center Stage in Vermont 5 hrs ago
- Researchers Question Wide Use of HPV Vaccines 5 hrs ago
- Senator Fails in Effort to Move His Corruption Trial to Alaska 5 hrs ago
- Too Old and Frail to Re-educate? Not in China 5 hrs ago
- Georgian Crisis Brings Attitude Change to a Flush Poland 5 hrs ago
- Report Rejects Medicare Boast of Paring Fraud 5 hrs ago
Featured Businesses
Comments
Post a comment | View all comments on this topic.
June 1, 2008 5:54:10 am
RE: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080601/NEWS/806010388
This ought to be interesting. I wonder how that one city commissioner will feel once they have a taste of this? Will they still want to keep their agency? Then again, I think the officer was cleared and the idea of another group wanting a separate inquiry is wrong. Sounds like they are going to make this a race issue.
June 1, 2008 5:59:38 am
You beat me to it willy!
OF COURSE the NAACP is going to "investigate." Everyone knows they are the be-all, end-all authority in police tactics, procedures and investigations.
Would the NAAWP be investigating if the suspect were white?
June 1, 2008 6:10:05 am
The Police procedure of removing the keys when a suspect attempts to leave, is an *****ic procedure! It practically guarantees that the suspect will be charged with attacking the Officer! The Officer intentionally places himself in a dangerous position with little probability of any other outcome.
June 1, 2008 6:20:15 am
The guy stole something, tried to leave with an LEO attached to his vehicle keys. Thief thing, not racial thing. Duh, NAACP. Case closed.
June 1, 2008 6:21:32 am
The suspect could have LET the officer remove the keys. The suspect started this whole chain of events. If he had complied none of this would have happened.
Officers put themselves in positions of danger every day.
June 1, 2008 6:49:00 am
It's a stupid policy and an even stupider procedure. Get the keys FIRST, BEFORE he can attempt to leave! OR, let him go, call in a "fleeing to elude", with complete description of vehicle and Suspect.Keep him in sight until Backup arrives. Preferably Air support! And, "keep in sight" does not mean "on his bumper", either! It's not like he's intelligent, ya know!
Police do NOT use their technological advantages properly! They (technology)are not "Macho" enough!
June 1, 2008 7:46:54 am
The NAACP is one of the most racist organizations there is. And they say the KKK is racist. I think this is a double standard.
June 1, 2008 8:46:23 am
Did you notice that during the wrecker guy article about a week or so ago the NAACP said they might come down to take a look at that? Now this and the NAACP wants to investigate?
Why does the NAACP want to be in Polk County so very badly?Makes a person go hmmmmmmmmmmmm....
June 1, 2008 10:26:38 am
Of course there is not anyone to protect the whites, because then they might be equal to the blacks,and we all know the blacks don't like that because then they could not get away wth as much as they do, think back to O. J. whites and blacks knew he was guilty but the blacks had to prove the point if the yelled long enough, got enough blacks to riot, got enough blacks to say he was innocent then he would be found that way and he was found that way even though they knew he was not, it was to make a point if the cried wolf they would get their way as in most of the wolf cries. I am black and i think naacp should be done away with because it is not used for justice, it is used for wolf cries.Cry wof long enough and know one will believe you and this what has happened.
June 1, 2008 10:49:32 am
Good, have the U.S. Justice department investigate. The more times this now racist group is proven how stupid they are complaining every time there is an issue of color that comes up. The sooner they will virtually disappear. They have lost so much respect as a group now that it is a shame that a group that did good in the early years has turned into a group that is now looked at as totally predjudiced instead of trying to help.
Sensless shooting? Yes, always is. It is a shame that crooks do crimes, get into a situation, and get dead. He could have been home at that very instant loving his family instead.
Post a comment | View all comments