Pick187
07-01-2010, 10:18 AM
West Memphis officer Bill Evans stops a van. Inside of the van is Jerry Kane, his 16-year-old son Joe and their two dogs. The van is registered to House of God in Ohio. The video is very long and shows that Ofc. Even does a passenger side approach. He gets what appears to be the vehicle information and then steps to the rear of the van and get the driver, Jerry Kane, out. They go off camera and Jerry Kane approaches the van several times and appears to be conversing with his son, Joe, and at one time gets a drink from the van. The video also shows Jerry going and pointing to the tag on the vehicle. Around 9:40 in the video Sergeant Brandon Paudert drives up the wrong way on the off ramp and pulls behind the traffic stop as back up. Around 10:57 on the video Sgt Paudert crosses in front of the video and it appears that they have Jerry Kane place his hands on the vehicle which he does, but shortly after that pulls away. When both officers attention goes to Jerry Kane, Joe the 16 year old steps out with an AK47 and starts shooting. Most of the action is off video, but as they drive off the 16 year old puts the rifle out the window and fires multiple shots.
Traffic stop video
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.aspx?aid=104588#/News/Graphic+Video%3A+Traffic+stop/53098765001/52747342001/106407203001
Okay I don’t know what is going on. The first officers arrive and it appears that the one in the video goes into a mental shut down. He stands next to his car while there are two officers laying on the ground.
First responders video
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.aspx?aid=104588#/News/Graphic+Video%3A+First+responders+arrive+/53098765001/52747342001/106128860001
Ninety-minutes later at a nearby Walmart, Joe Kane goes in to buy something, but the prosecutor won't say what. Surveillance video then shows the Kanes trying to leave, but Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Deputy W.A. Wren block their van. Jerry Kane gets out the van, opens fire and injures them. Jerry gets back in the van and backs up trying to escape when Arkansas Game & Fish officer Michael Neal rams the van, preventing escape. The suspects fire up Ofc. Neal’s truck and he returns fire thru his windshield. Ofc. Neal then does a great tactical move and backs out of fire. Both suspects are killed and an Army of officers swarm the vehicle. Watch the officers and their cross fire, probably something no one thought of at the time due to stress level but something to remember for next time.
Suspects located at Walmart video
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.aspx?aid=104588#/News/Graphic+Video%3A+Walmart+shootout/53098765001/52747342001/106407853001
Busby is doing well and plans to retire next year. Wren was shot multiple times and will take some time to recover at home.
At the time of the shooting, Kane and his son were reportedly traveling the country giving seminars on mortgage fraud. They had a history of anti-government and anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
State of Arkansas Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
June 30, 2010
Press Release
RE: Shootings of West Memphis Officers and Suspects
This office has received a preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police on the recent shootings in West Memphis which resulted in the deaths of two West Memphis Police Officers, Patrol Officer Bill Evans and Sgt. Brandon Paudert, and the subsequent deaths of suspect Jerry Kane and Joseph Kane. The report is deemed preliminary, as files from the FBI have yet to be reviewed, and analyses from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory are not yet available. Nevertheless, the file is sufficiently complete to allow this office to reach the following preliminary conclusions.
First, Officers Evans and Paudert were shot while engaged in the performance of their duties. Had the Kanes surrendered voluntarily or been arrested without incident prior to the shootings at the Wal Mart parking lot, they would have faced capital murder charges from this office.
Second, the use of deadly physical force by the various officers involved in the attempted apprehension of the suspects at the West Memphis Wal Mart that resulted in the deaths of Jerry Kane and Joseph Kane was justified, and we do not anticipate filing any charges against any of the officers involved. They were confronted by armed and dangerous individuals who were determined to avoid being taken into custody, individuals who these officers had reason to believe had already killed two fellow officers. In addition, the statements of officers at the scene reflect that the suspects initially opened fire on Crittenden County Sheriff Richard Busby and Deputy W.A. Wren, as they continued in their efforts to flee and avoid arrest. The officers who disabled the suspects vehicle and returned fire were not only justified, but acting in self defense.
As there are materials from the FBI that have yet to be reviewed, as well as matters still under review at the Arkansas State Crime Lab, this investigation should be considered ongoing. Nevertheless, due to the amount of public and media interest which has been expressed to this office, I have decided to make the following materials available to the public at this time.
1. Arkansas State Police Case Summary
2. Arkansas State Police Crime Scene Summary
3. Arkansas State Police Witness Summaries
4. Video compiled from Victims/Officers dash cameras and Wal Mart Security Cameras
As this is an ongoing investigation, and out of respect for the families of the victims, I do not anticipate additional press releases on this matter.
Mike Walden
Prosecuting Attorney
Traffic stop video
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.aspx?aid=104588#/News/Graphic+Video%3A+Traffic+stop/53098765001/52747342001/106407203001
Okay I don’t know what is going on. The first officers arrive and it appears that the one in the video goes into a mental shut down. He stands next to his car while there are two officers laying on the ground.
First responders video
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.aspx?aid=104588#/News/Graphic+Video%3A+First+responders+arrive+/53098765001/52747342001/106128860001
Ninety-minutes later at a nearby Walmart, Joe Kane goes in to buy something, but the prosecutor won't say what. Surveillance video then shows the Kanes trying to leave, but Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Deputy W.A. Wren block their van. Jerry Kane gets out the van, opens fire and injures them. Jerry gets back in the van and backs up trying to escape when Arkansas Game & Fish officer Michael Neal rams the van, preventing escape. The suspects fire up Ofc. Neal’s truck and he returns fire thru his windshield. Ofc. Neal then does a great tactical move and backs out of fire. Both suspects are killed and an Army of officers swarm the vehicle. Watch the officers and their cross fire, probably something no one thought of at the time due to stress level but something to remember for next time.
Suspects located at Walmart video
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.aspx?aid=104588#/News/Graphic+Video%3A+Walmart+shootout/53098765001/52747342001/106407853001
Busby is doing well and plans to retire next year. Wren was shot multiple times and will take some time to recover at home.
At the time of the shooting, Kane and his son were reportedly traveling the country giving seminars on mortgage fraud. They had a history of anti-government and anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
State of Arkansas Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
June 30, 2010
Press Release
RE: Shootings of West Memphis Officers and Suspects
This office has received a preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police on the recent shootings in West Memphis which resulted in the deaths of two West Memphis Police Officers, Patrol Officer Bill Evans and Sgt. Brandon Paudert, and the subsequent deaths of suspect Jerry Kane and Joseph Kane. The report is deemed preliminary, as files from the FBI have yet to be reviewed, and analyses from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory are not yet available. Nevertheless, the file is sufficiently complete to allow this office to reach the following preliminary conclusions.
First, Officers Evans and Paudert were shot while engaged in the performance of their duties. Had the Kanes surrendered voluntarily or been arrested without incident prior to the shootings at the Wal Mart parking lot, they would have faced capital murder charges from this office.
Second, the use of deadly physical force by the various officers involved in the attempted apprehension of the suspects at the West Memphis Wal Mart that resulted in the deaths of Jerry Kane and Joseph Kane was justified, and we do not anticipate filing any charges against any of the officers involved. They were confronted by armed and dangerous individuals who were determined to avoid being taken into custody, individuals who these officers had reason to believe had already killed two fellow officers. In addition, the statements of officers at the scene reflect that the suspects initially opened fire on Crittenden County Sheriff Richard Busby and Deputy W.A. Wren, as they continued in their efforts to flee and avoid arrest. The officers who disabled the suspects vehicle and returned fire were not only justified, but acting in self defense.
As there are materials from the FBI that have yet to be reviewed, as well as matters still under review at the Arkansas State Crime Lab, this investigation should be considered ongoing. Nevertheless, due to the amount of public and media interest which has been expressed to this office, I have decided to make the following materials available to the public at this time.
1. Arkansas State Police Case Summary
2. Arkansas State Police Crime Scene Summary
3. Arkansas State Police Witness Summaries
4. Video compiled from Victims/Officers dash cameras and Wal Mart Security Cameras
As this is an ongoing investigation, and out of respect for the families of the victims, I do not anticipate additional press releases on this matter.
Mike Walden
Prosecuting Attorney