Sheriff Strength Relieved Deputies Not Charged In Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting

Sheriff Strength Relieved Deputies Not Charged In Cherry Tree... (Added: May 06, 2009)

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Sheriff Strength Relieved Deputies Not Charged In Cherry Tree Crossing Shooting

After hours of review a Grand Jury determines the fate of two officers involved in a controversial shooting case. Some in the Cherry Tree Crossing area are upset about the ruling but Sheriff Ronnie Strength says the dash cam video was clear and the decision is right. Count on WJBF News Channel 6's Fraendy Clervaud for the story.

By: Fraendy Clervaud | WJBF-TV
Published: May 06, 2009

Augusta, GA -- About two dozen grand jurors determined the fate of two officers involved in controversial case. Tuesday afternoon jurors found Michael Hodge and José Ortiz not responsible for the shooting death of Justin Elmore, back in December 2008. Sheriff Ronnie Strength tells WJBF News Channel 6 that he is relieved that the officers were not charged.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength, Richmond County Sheriff's Office: ”They spent several hours going through witnesses, going through the video many, many times, and they felt that the officers made the right decision.”

He says Hodge and Ortiz had a tough time for the past five months. Sheriff Strength says the dash cam video is clear and shows why the officers were cleared.

Sheriff Strength: “But anybody who would sit down and not just a quick glance and they pay attention to actually what happened and when the threat was...and the threat was when that car went into drive, that was the threat.”

Because of the sensitivity of the case, some feared that with the officers being cleared, there would be an angry crowd at Cherry Tree Crossing. But, that wasn't the case when we were there, Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength: “We hope that there is no problem and we do have reaction teams if something did happen...99 percent of the folks over there are good people, and they must be protected.”

According to the Sheriff, those officers will be reassigned to different duties.