WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Officer Charged With Murder in Shooting Death of Suspect (New Milford-WTNH) _ A New Milford police officer finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Officer Scott Smith is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 27 year old Franklyn Reid. Reid was shot in the back after leading police on a foot chase back in December. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. Smith is turned himself in to authorities and is now on paid administrative leave, and free on a $250,000 bond. Smith's attorney says his client plans to plead not guilty. A state prosecutor says Franklyn Reid was murdered by Smith. John Connelly, State's Attorney: "As a prosecutor, I did not feel that the shooting was justified, that's why we applied for the warrant charging the officer with murder." Reid was killed on Route 202 on December 29th. According to the coronor's report, Smith's gun was pressed up right against Reid's back. The officer fired off a single bullet, severing Reid's spine and killing him. The officer said he shot Reid because he feared that the man with a violent history was about to pull a gun or a knife. In an affidavit, Smith says: "While I was yelling at him to show me his hands with my weapon pointed at him, he made a sudden motion with his body in an apparent attempt to return to his feet. At the same instant, I saw both of his arms move quickly away from his midsection and his body came upwards towards mine. I believed at that time he was either going to shoot me or stab me. Out of fear for my life at that instant, I discharged my weapon." But Reid had no weapon on him. Connelly: "In one of the pockets of the jacket was a small pocket knife. The blade measured some 2 3/4". However the knife was folded and it appears when the officer had confronted Mr Reid he at some point had dropped that jacket." Witnesses driving by the scene say Reid appeared to have been subdued by the officer. Reid's family members say they're happy with the decision. Judy: "Did you have any doubt that the state police would be able to investigate one of it's own?" Wayne Reid, Victim's Brother: "Not at all. From the start I thought the state police was on our side." Officer Smith did not comment today, but a news conference is planned for later this week. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Officer Charged With Murder in Shooting Death of Suspect
(New Milford-WTNH) _ A New Milford police officer finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Officer Scott Smith is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 27 year old Franklyn Reid. Reid was shot in the back after leading police on a foot chase back in December.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

Smith is turned himself in to authorities and is now on paid administrative leave, and free on a $250,000 bond. Smith's attorney says his client plans to plead not guilty. A state prosecutor says Franklyn Reid was murdered by Smith.

John Connelly, State's Attorney: "As a prosecutor, I did not feel that the shooting was justified, that's why we applied for the warrant charging the officer with murder."

Crime Scene from December Reid was killed on Route 202 on December 29th. According to the coronor's report, Smith's gun was pressed up right against Reid's back. The officer fired off a single bullet, severing Reid's spine and killing him. The officer said he shot Reid because he feared that the man with a violent history was about to pull a gun or a knife.
In an affidavit, Smith says:

"While I was yelling at him to show me his hands with my weapon pointed at him, he made a sudden motion with his body in an apparent attempt to return to his feet. At the same instant, I saw both of his arms move quickly away from his midsection and his body came upwards towards mine. I believed at that time he was either going to shoot me or stab me. Out of fear for my life at that instant, I discharged my weapon."

But Reid had no weapon on him.

Connelly: "In one of the pockets of the jacket was a small pocket knife. The blade measured some 2 3/4". However the knife was folded and it appears when the officer had confronted Mr Reid he at some point had dropped that jacket."

Witnesses driving by the scene say Reid appeared to have been subdued by the officer.

F.Reid Reid's family members say they're happy with the decision.

Judy: "Did you have any doubt that the state police would be able to investigate one of it's own?"
Wayne Reid, Victim's Brother: "Not at all. From the start I thought the state police was on our side."

Officer Smith did not comment today, but a news conference is planned for later this week.

Today's News Page.

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