October 6 – Greensburg, Pennsylvania – Ray Allen Shetler accused law enforcement officials of brutally beating him whereas executing a warrant for his arrest in retaliation for him capturing St. Clair Township police officer Lloyd Reed Jr., an motion for which he was charged with homicide and located not responsible.
Members of the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Division and Pennsylvania State Police arrested Shetler on Dec. 7, 2021, when he was hiding in a 10-foot-by-12-foot bed room in a buddy’s trailer in St. Clair Township.
Shetler was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disarming a regulation enforcement officer over the incident.
A number of officers testified over two days, accusing the defendant of refusing to adjust to orders and being bodily violent towards them, together with Sgt. Ervin Shipley, of the Sheriff’s Division, who suffered accidents to his head, hand and shoulder.
Shetler contradicted their variations of occasions throughout his testimony earlier than Westmoreland County Decide Megan Belek DeFazio on Thursday.
Shetler mentioned he heard autos driving on the gravel outdoors the trailer, prompting his girlfriend, Kelly Shay Morgan, to look out the window after which go away the room. He then “crammed” himself between the futon and the wall, protecting himself with blankets, as he described his scenario when the police entered the room. The officers found Shetler after which, by his account, instantly started beating him.
When requested if he had fought with the officers, Shetler mentioned “by no means” and reported repeatedly yelling “please assist me.” He additionally answered “undoubtedly” and “appropriate” when requested throughout questioning whether or not the officers lied of their variations of occasions.
Throughout the altercation, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jake Goga fired a stun gun.
Goga mentioned Shetler was preventing with Shipley and BSP Trooper Dylan Toye and that the accused’s hand was not seen, which was “very regarding to me.” Goga instructed the jury he known as out “Taser, Taser, Taser”. Goga mentioned Shetler was about 4 toes away, however then “lunged” towards him.
“This brought about the taser to be ineffective,” Goga mentioned.
One of many tentacles hit Shetler within the eye, inflicting him to lose his sight after it couldn’t be repaired surgically. He confirmed his injured eye to the jury.
Shetler gave a unique account of the incident, saying that the officer, who was not named, held a stun gun to his head and instructed him: “That is for Reed” earlier than opening hearth.
Shetler mentioned he was additionally crushed with a flashlight, punched, kicked and kneed within the testicles.
He was the third particular person to be transported by ambulance from the scene, after Kenneth Cross, the trailer proprietor who had chest pains and a coronary heart historical past, and Shipley. Shetler claimed that the police requested medical employees to not deal with him and that he heard an officer he knew say: “I am bleeding, Shetler.”
The jury was proven a number of images of bloody accidents to his face and again.
A number of officers testified that they thought of the arrest warrant “excessive danger” due to Shetler earlier than killing Reed.
He was on probation after being convicted of expenses associated to stealing a truck after the deadly capturing. A warrant was issued for Shetler’s arrest on December 3 after he failed a drug take a look at after which didn’t present up for his probation listening to.
Shetler testified that he hid within the woods between the issuance of the warrant and his arrest.
He claimed he known as his probation officer and deliberate to give up the day after officers discovered him, however he needed to spend a while together with his girlfriend earlier than leaving, so he went to Cross’s trailer, the place she was staying.
Officers had beforehand come to the house in search of him after the arrest warrant was issued. Then they returned on the night time of December 7, and located Shetler.
“I did not know Ray was there,” mentioned Cross, who faces a cost of hindering apprehension.
Cross mentioned he stayed in his shed for some time, then went contained in the trailer and was on the point of sleep when police arrived. Shetler mentioned he noticed Cross go into the shed, sneak into the trailer after which go into the bed room and shut the door. He instructed the court docket that Cross was unaware of his presence.
Officers mentioned Cross instructed them Shetler wasn’t there earlier than they entered.
Cross claimed {that a} police officer hit him within the face whereas he was handcuffed.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday. Jury deliberations will observe.