UPDATED: Officers Cleared In Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting

UPDATED: Officers Cleared In Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting (Added: May 05, 2009)

Richmond County Sheriff's Office Deputies Michael Hodge and Jose Ortiz have been cleared in a December shooting that killed a 23-year-old suspect, Justin Elmore. Elmore was shot and killed by two depu (more)

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UPDATED: Officers Cleared In Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting

WJBF News Channel 6 has learned that the Richmond County Grand Jury has returned a 'No Bill' in the case of the police-involved shooting at the Cherry Tree Crossing neighborhood, back in December. The officers left the municipal building late Tuesday afternoon.

By: WJBF Staff | WJBF-TV
Published: May 05, 2009

Augusta, GA -- The State presented its case to for more than six hours. It was a long day with the state calling four witnesses, including 2 GBI agents.

Just a few minutes after the word the officers would be cleared, I spoke with the Sheriff who expressed relief that the officers were not charged.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength says Deputies Michael Hodge and Jose Rivera Ortiz have a had a rough few months, waiting for this case to be heard by a Grand Jury. He says it's also been tough for the department, as a whole.

You'll remember, in December, dumpsters were set on fire, tempers flared, and several arrests were made as residents got word of the shooting, but the Sheriff says his concern now is for peace and calm in the Cherry Tree Crossing subdivision, now, and the months to come.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength, Richmond County Sheriff's Office: "We definitely want a peaceful night, and we hope we don't have to go over there. But, we would have to react...99 percent of the folks over there are good people, and they must be protected. I think, last time that we were over there, when we had the shooting, the folks that we did arrest were not even from there. They did not live there. They came from the outside and you can get a handful of agitators and cause some problems. We hope it does not happen this time."

Just in case tensions run high, the Sheriff says he has a reaction team in place to respond to any problems to try prevent what we saw happen in December. The Georgia State Patrol, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, DNR and Richmond County officers are on standby.

Count on WJBF News Channel 6 to provide more information on this breaking story as it develops.