Judge Dismisses Case Of Philadelphia Cop Charged With Murder
This was truly shocking.
Philadelphia cops have gotten away with so much for so long, they were furious when progressive DA Larry Krasner was elected -- and then reelected. (There were F*ck Krasner signs all over my neighborhood.)
Then they were furious over the George Floyd protests, because after all, no one should ever question cops. They went into a long "soft strike" where they sat on their hands and did only minimal intervention in crime.
Then, on Aug. 14th, Eddie Irizarry, a young schizophrenic man who had been driving erratically, was shot to death by Officer Mark Dial as he sat in his car. The official version said Irizarry “lunged at the officers” while outside his vehicle.
Then Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced the body cam footage did not support the cops' story (Irizarry was sitting in the car with the window up when he was shot), and referred the case to DA Krasner. (Some days later, Outlaw resigned to take another job and left immediately. I'm sure the police union didn't force her out!)
Anyway, murder charges were filed against Dial. Yesterday, in a shocking turn of events, they were dismissed by Judge Wendy Pew, who said there was no evidence to support the charges. She said the shooting was justified.
For what it's worth, I did not hear Dial's partner yell "Gun!" I heard him yell "Knife!"
Krasner has already re-filed charges.