
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 14, 1995                   TAG: 9510160033
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BLACKSBURG CHIEF'S STATEMENT ON RULING IN SHOOTING

Special prosecutor Gino Williams, Floyd County commonwealth's attorney, said Thursday that the Aug. 9 shooting of Maurice Taylor by Blacksburg police was justifiable after Taylor pulled a BB pistol on three officers attempting to arrest him.

Following is a portion of the statement Blacksburg Police Chief William Brown released after Williams issued his opinion:

"The incident of Aug. 9 was truly a tragedy. It caused the loss of one young man's life and a tremendous toll on literally hundreds of others. Police officers generally work, as I have, for an entire career and never fire their weapon at another human being.

But, when it does happens as in this instance, it causes sadness throughout an entire community. The three officers involved, J.E. Keene, T.D. Wimmer and M.G. Mickey, are expected to return to routine duties in the next few days. However, Officer Mickey will remain on light duty until he fully recovers from his injury. [A police bullet hit Mickey in the thigh.] ...

This incident caused great concern throughout our typically quiet community and has affected those of us in law enforcement as well. The officers involved and their co-workers have had to deal with a wide array of emotions and that part will continue to tax local police officers for some time.

On behalf of the officers involved and the entire department, I want to send a heart-felt thanks to everyone who has continued to support the men and women of this agency. ...

The Blacksburg Police Department ... does not expect to receive any investigative files from the state police or the FBI and because of that is unable to answer any technical questions about the investigation and must defer to the respective agency or special prosecutor.

by CNB