Butte County issued a statement on Tuesday about the Grand Jury's ability to investigate the officer-involved shooting that happened on Thanksgiving Day.
The Office of County Counsel serves as the attorney for the Grand Jury in their civil watchdog function and advises the Grand Jury on the jurisdiction of their inquiries and the extent of their powers and duties.
According to Casey Hatcher, Butte County public information officer, questions have been raised about the Grand Jury investigating the shooting incident involving former Paradise Police Officer Patrick Feaster. She explained based on the circumstances of the shooting, and the recent legislation of Penal Code Section 917(b), the Grand Jury is prohibited from investigating whether Feaster engaged in any criminal conduct.
Penal Code Section 917(b) states, "Except as provided Section 918, the Grand Jury shall not inquire into an offense that involves a shooting or use of excessive force by a peace officer described in Section 830.1, subdivision (a) of Section 830.2, or Section 830.39, that led to the death of a person being detained or arrested by the peace officer pursuant to Section 836.”
According to Hatcher, the intent behind this legislation with this penal code is because law makers were concerned that recent police shootings and alleged excessive force incidents causing deaths, which were video taped and investigated by a grand jury in a confidential manner, were seen as unfair or inexplicable when officers were not charged with an offense.
She added that concern was that the public's trust in the grand jury would be eroded, and that the Legislature decided that the gran jury's ability to investigate such incidents should be very limited.
Feaster is accused of shooting DUI suspect Andrew Thomas, 26, after a rollover crash in Paradise on November 26, 2015. Thomas' passenger, Darrien Ehorn died in the crash, and Thomas died a few weeks later.
February 16, 2016
KRCR News
Maghan Hunt
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