Here’s the report from Middlesex DA Marion Ryan about the tragic shooting of Michael Conlin in January 2021 in Newton Highlands.
The report concludes “When officers Benes and Scaltreto fired their weapons, any reasonable law enforcement officer in the same position would reasonably believe that he and his fellow officers as well as others, were in imminent danger of being seriously injured or killed. At that moment no reasonable alternative existed, except for the use of deadly force.”
To be more exact, the judge conducting the inquest found no criminal liability:
She emphasizes that the standard is whether the actions were “objectively reasonable, given all the circumstances confronting the officer at the scene”, not what would have been optimal with 20/20 hindsight.
“, two other Newton Police officers fired their service weapons and one of the Massachusetts State Police Troopers deployed his Taser.”
Clearly, the actions were not universally objectively reasonable if the State Trooper’s assessment was to pull for a taser and not a gun. I read the full report, it screams of every law and order trope – the bizarre medication section as well (Gabapentin is the most blase anti-anxiety med out there) used in these “investigations” by law and order DAs.
According to the report, this incident turned into a tragedy when a “less-than-lethal” shotgun deployed by NPD failed to fire. The report does not address why that weapon failed. Was it a mechanical failure? Operator error? This specific point really needs clarification, and I’m surprised a clear explanation did not appear in the report.
[In reply to Jim, above]
You are selectively and misleadingly quoting from Dr. Christine Stanley’s (the medical examiner) testimony on page 10-11 of the report.
The complete quote is “Dr. Stanley testified that Conlon was six feet, two inches tall and weighed two hundred fifty-seven pounds. Dr. Stanley testified to the detection of methamphetamine, lorazepam, gabapentin, hydroxyzine, pseudoephedrine, and prescribed amphetamine, alprazolam, buprenorphine, chlorcyclizine, and quetiapine metabolite in femoral blood collected at autopsy. [in Footnote] Dr. Stanley testified that the only illicit drug detected was methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth and that the level detected, 500 nanograms/ml, was very high. In her experience , she would typically see levels under 100 nanograms/ml.”
Whatever you feelings about the police, it is wrong to describe the medical examiner’s inquest testimony as “bizarre” and to only mention one drug out of the 10 she found. Also Mr. Conlon was on very high dosage of crystal meth, which is extremely relevant to his behavior.
[In reply to Mike Striar, above]
The post-incident inspection and testing of the less-than-lethal shotgun is addressed in footnotes 6 and 7 on page 10, although no conclusions could be drawn from the testing.
…and that’s my point. Everything in this report is included for a reason. The inclusion of numerous psychiatric medications, including the rest listed, is included to paint a gross picture of someone on drugs.
Lots of Monday morning quarterback comments on this thread. The use of force seems entirely reasonable when you read the full sequence of events leading up to it.
My question is why it took almost 1.5 years to arrive at this conclusion. Must have been very hard for the officers in question to have this cloud hanging over them this whole time.
Monday morning quarterbacking by couch potatoes is the hallmark of the Internet after all. Ain’t technology wonderful?
These Newton Police officers should be reinstated to the force immediately.
I am glad that the report was released to the public. The officers here and in every district protect the citizens. It is NOT an easy job, and they are put into difficult situations. This was a no win situation. In the end a man was killed, and I can’t imagine the police officers involved celebrate that. The officers don’t have an easy job. I don’t remember hearing back in January 2021 that the civilian was on drugs, but again this came out during the investigation. There are no winners, but the officers did their best job.
I feel bad for all. Including the officers that are put in incredibly stressful situations knowing that everything they do will be dissected with a lens toward guilty (you are suspended) until proved otherwise. And on top of that they likely relive the horrible situation in their dreams. Second guess themselves.
Not all police officers are saints. But the vast majority of them are good enough people that I thank them deeply for the service they provide and the sacrifices they make.