Posted on 04/13/2011 7:57:24 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Two eyewitnesses gave graphic testimony on Wednesday morning about the April 2 slaying of veteran Chattanooga Police Sgt. Tim Chapin on Old Bird's Mill Road in Brainerd.
A nearby resident told of being outside at a yard sale when he heard gunfire and then he watched a gunbattle between Sgt. Chapin and Colorado parolee Jesse Mathews.
Harlan Murray said he then went inside his house, got a gun, and held Matthews at gunpoint until police soon arrived and handcuffed him.
Zach Brackin, an employee of a nearby pawn shop that witnesses said Mathews had just robbed, told of watching the tragic slaying from behind a nearby power transformer.
Both witnesses said Sgt. Chapin tried to tase Mathews, who unzipped his jacket, drew a second handgun, and turned to engage in a gunbattle with the officer.
District Attorney Bill Cox said the state will seek the death penalty against the 25-year-old Mathews, who was brought into court in a wheelchair and appeared lethargic. He did not speak during the three-hour hearing.
Mr. Cox said the defendant "went loaded for bear. He was going to do what was necessary to accomplish his purpose, including killing a police officer."
Special Judge Johnny Houston kept Mathews on no bond.
Charges of felony murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery were bound to the Grand Jury.
(Excerpt) Read more at chattanoogan.com ...
It is strange that there are no photos of Jesse Mathews or his father. Pictures of the witnesses, though not the perp.
I knew of some police who kept a special load in their weapon. The first few shots were typical lead bullets, but they were followed with hardened steel bullets that could penetrate vests. They figured that if three regular bullets couldn’t do it, they needed something with a little extra zip.
I can’t believe the officer tried to use a tazer on the guy in the first place.
However, prosecutor Chris Poole said Ray Evans had been helping his son evade authorities since he was 15 years old. He said when he was 15, Jesse Mathews had stolen a truck and brought it home. He said, instead of reporting it to authorities or returning it to the owner, Ray Mathews had dumped it off at a parking lot.
He said when Jesse Mathews was 17 and committing a string of armed robberies in Colorado that his father had possession of the gun used in the robberies. He said the father hid that gun and put a BB gun in its place to try to throw authorities off base.
Jesse Mathews got a 20-year sentence, but he was released last fall after serving eight years. He left a halfway house and came to the South recently.
Thank you.
Punk and his daddy should still be in prison.
Wonderful family, with lots of values: stick together, help each other out of jams, share windfalls with each other, buy guns for disqualified family members who need them for their jobs....
Too many crimes; not enough hangings.
Ray Vance Mathews, father of accused cop-killer Jesse Mathews, is shown being taken in the the federal courthouse today in preparation for his arraignment this afternoon. He along with his wife, Kathleen Mathews, face charges of accessory after the fact, possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and misprison of a felony, and withholding of knowledge about a committed felony to authorities. Staff photo by John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Using a Tazer on an armed robber? A pawn shop owner that, apparently, was not armed? Hmmm.... Not where I live, and not in my favorite pawn shop. In my fav pawn shop, they would have taken care of business, and the sgt would be alive and complimenting them on excellant gun control.
Fear of litigation.
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