Culpeper police officer Daniel Harmon-Wright pleads not guilty in death of Patricia Cook (Virginia)

My Fox DC ^ | June 8, 2012 | Bob Barnard

[deks]

CULPEPER, Va. - June 8, 2012

A Culpeper police officer is free on $100,000 bond after pleading not guilty to murder and gun charges.

Police have said Harmon-Wright was responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a church parking lot when he fatally shot 54-year-old Patricia A. Cook on Feb. 9.

[Culpeper is halfway between Fairfax and Charlottesville in Culpeper County, Virginia]

Video at link. . .Please see comment #1 for background concerning the murder of Patricia Cook, appointment of a special prosecutor and special investigative grand jury, and the indictment.

[deks]

Video at link has several views of the crime scene and "startling new facts" about this murder case. The two shots fired through the driver's window were not fatal. . .one of the five shots fired from behind the car as Cook drove away was.

A lawyer gave the defendant's reasoning for the shooting, saying that he considered Patricia Cook a "fleeing felon" and shot her not only in self-defense, but to protect the community. . .that in turning the car sharply she threatened to run over him with the rear wheels. . .that she drove away with a sun screen in the windshield.

Prosecutors revealed more information at the hearing, saying Harmon-Wright had a history of alcohol abuse. . .when he interviewed for the job six years ago, the officers who conducted a background check on him recommended that he not be hired. . .he was reprimanded by the police chief within 6 months of being hired. . ."prosecutors say Harmon-Wright and another officer entered a citizen's home without a warrant or probable cause and pulled guns in the process."

"Officer Harmon-Wright's mother, Bethany Sullivan, a one-time administrative assistant to the Culpeper police chief, faces six felony charges of her own. She is accused of tampering with her son's personnel file."

Background articles found at Keyword patriciacook...

• Culpeper officer indicted for murder in woman’s shooting

  05/31/2012 2:45:39 PM PDT · by Altariel · 24 replies

  Fredericksburg.com/ ^ | May 29, 2012 | Donnie Johnston

  A special investigative grand jury Tuesday handed down a murder indictment against the Culpeper town policeman who shot and killed a 54-year-old unarmed woman on Feb. 9. Thirty-two-year-old Daniel Harmon–Wright, aka Daniel Wayne Sullivan, aka Dan Wayne, turned himself in to Prince William County authorities Tuesday night near his home in Gainesville, sources said. According to the Virginia State Police, Harmon–Wright has been charged with one count of murder, malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle, malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle resulting in a death and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The charges stem from...

• Prosecutor requests grand jury probe in Pat Cook shooting

  04/09/2012 9:30:38 AM PDT · by Altariel · 5 replies

  Culpeper Star-Exponent ^ | April 2, 2012 | Allison Brophy Champion

  The special prosecutor assigned to review the Feb. 9 fatal shooting of local housewife Patricia Ann Cook by a Culpeper Police Officer has requested a special grand jury investigate the matter. Potential grand jurors from Culpeper could be summoned as early as next week to commence their work the first week of May, according to Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney James P. Fisher. The special prosecutor said he was hopeful the grand jury review and evidentiary review could be complete by the end of June at which time all the forensic and scientific evidence would also be finalized. “Whether such an...

• 54-Year-Old Woman Patricia Cook Killed in Police Shooting in Culpeper

  02/19/2012 10:16:11 AM PST · by Altariel · 183 replies · 3+ views

  My Fox DC ^ | February 10, 2012 | Audrey Barnes

  By AUDREY BARNES/myfoxdc CULPEPER, Va. - Investigators are trying to figure out what led to a police shooting that killed a 54-year-old woman in Culpeper. A telephone pole on North East Street is where police say the confrontation between Patricia Cook and a five-year veteran of the Town of Culpeper Police Department ended. Ironically, it began about 75 yards up the street outside of the church Cook attended. And if you had to pick a person least likely to be shot and killed by police, the victim's next door neighbor said it would be Patricia Cook. “She’s always talked really...

[elkfersupper]

So, the "Thin Blue Line" isn't so thin after all.

Who would have guessed that?

[familyop]

Free on bond. Interesting.

[elkfersupper]

Free on bond. Interesting.

Two sets of laws, rules and standards. One for government employees - especially "Law Enforcement Officers" - another set for the rest of us.

[elkfersupper]

Free on bond. Interesting.

Two sets of laws, rules and standards. One for government employees - especially "Law Enforcement Officers" - another set for the rest of us.

[muawiyah]

$100,000 bond.

It's truly unfortunate but this guy is a cocked gun ready to fire. It'll happen somewhere, some time, but it will happen.

He's the kind who needs to go to a Super Max facility.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

This leaves several big questions unanswered.

1) How did he determine she was a felon?

2) “She cut the wheels really sharp to try to run over him with the rear wheels.” If the vehicle was moving forward it is a lot easier to prove intent than if it is moving backwards.

Imagine you are driving and a person is not directly behind you. How do you steer your front wheels to hit them with your back wheels quickly, given the difference between turning radii between the front wheels and the back wheels?

3) He was able to sidestep her vehicle and put two rounds through the driver’s side window, but then she must have reversed the direction of her car to drive forward. Since she was then leaving, she was no longer an imminent threat to him, so police policy might no longer authorize shooting.

Given this, at least an indictment seems appropriate without further evidence. Whether or not it is enough to convict is a good question.

[doorgunner69]

His mother getting caught trying to diddle the records probably did not help with others aiding the fix. Shine the spotlight and the roaches scuttle.

[Repeat Offender]

He's the kind who needs to go to a Super Max facility Old Sparky.

Virginia is second only to Texas in executing violent felons. However, unlike Texas, Ole Virginny still uses the electric chair. If he's found guilty, I think Rappahannock Electric Co-Op (services Culpeper) can spare a few kilowats.

[W. W. SMITH]

One for government employees - especially “Law Enforcement Officers” - another set for the rest of us.

150,000 for a black Hispanic and that was revoked. Yep Those blasted Democrats are racist.

[Repeat Offender]

He's the kind who needs to go to a Super Max facility Old Sparky.

darned HML

Virginia is second only to Texas in executing violent felons. However, unlike Texas, Ole Virginny still uses the electric chair. If he's found guilty, I think Rappahannock Electric Co-Op (services Culpeper) can spare a few kilowats.

Let me further correct myself, Virginia has apparently executed more felons than any other state in the history of the union......Texas has had more since 1976.

[familyop]

Yep. Even social workers lobbied for and received immunity, at least in some states, after several hundred of them were arrested for various crimes in Texas during the ‘90s.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

First of all, I rarely trust any man who uses 2 (hyphenated) last names.....as do feminists.

[Altariel]

Not surprising.

[MplsSteve]

If this a-hole beats the rap in Virginia, he’ll easily find employment with just about any Florida law enforcement agency.

[Bon mots]

Murder victim:

[Bon mots]

Murderer:

[kanawa]

Ping

[Oztrich Boy]

Scumbag for a lawyer too.

[starlifter]

Thank you.