Remember the mentally ill man whose family called for help in calming him down — and who the cops Tasered, then sent EMS away?  The young man died — read all the details in our prior post.

Well, according to PoliceOne.Com, the Fort Worth Police Department has closed the file on Officer Stephanie A. Phillips without any disciplinary measures.  She remains out on patrol … you could see her today, protecting and serving in your neighborhood. 

The Fort Worth Police Department Never Removed The Tasering Cop From the Streets

As it shuts the file on its internal affairs investigation into the death of a young man by electrical shock imposed by one of its officers, the Fort Worth Police Department also revealed in its press conference this week that the officer was NEVER taken off the streets while the investigation was being undertaken. So, from April 2009 when Michael Jacobs died to today, when the internal affairs investigation closed, Officer Phillips was always out on the streets, never assigned to a desk job, while her killing of a man was reviewed.

Fort Worth Police Department officials admit that they MIGHT think again once the Grand Jury finishes with the case. The untimely death of 24 year old Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr., occured on April 18th of this year when Officer Phillips used a Taser TWICE on him.

According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Taser was used initially for 49 seconds and then again, for 5 seconds. They are practically a single shock since there was only a 1-second time gap between the times that Officer Phillips used her stun gun.

The Medical Examiner ruled this case a HOMICIDE. 

Meanwhile, the Medical Examiner has ruled this case a homicide.  That’s right.  According to the official report, Michael Jacobs was murdered by Taser.   

In the Medical Examiner’s official report, Officer Phillips told a detective after the incident that she “unknowingly kept the Taser trigger engaged for an unknown amount of time when she first applied the Taser, thus increasing the pre-programmed shock duration cycle of five seconds.”  When Michael Jacobs “continued to struggle,” [remember, the cops knew that he was mentally ill and might not understand them, might be very scared and terrified of them] Phillips warned him again that if he did not “cease fighting and comply with officers’ requests, she would shock him again, according to the report. When [Jacobs] failed to cooperate, Phillips shocked him a second time.”

Thank Goodness There are Others Involved in Seeking Justice Here

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved in the case, and the Police Chief has told the media that the Fort Worth internal affairs investigative report has been turned over to the FBI.  Bet that’s a big help, right?

The family of Michael Jacobs has sued the Police Department for his wrongful death, as well.  Perhaps between the civil action, the federal investigation, and the grand jury, we’ll hear a little more about the murder by cop via a Taser, and someone will explain why the Fort Worth Police Department hasn’t even slapped the hands of the officer that no one questions killed a man on April 18, 2009. 

Who else is shaking their head that a cop murders someone — it’s officially declared a homicide — and still, the cop never even gets moved to a desk while the investigation is undertaken by Internal Affairs????

Yesterday, Richard Miles became a free man after being jailed for 14 years.  His mom was there, waiting for him, at the Dallas County Courthouse.

Cops Kept Their Mouths Shut Since 1995

In August 1995, Richard Miles was tried and convicted for murder and attempted murder here in Dallas.  And from then until now, the Dallas police failed to tell the District Attorney or lawyers for Richard Miles that an anonymous caller told the cops that another man was the real shooter, not Richard Miles.

Evidence of Richard Miles’ Innocence

Back in August 1995, there were several witnesses who testified that someone else — not Richard Miles — was the man who shot the gun.  They testified that the shooter shot with his right hand.  And that the shooter wore shorts. Richard Miles was wearing pants at the time.  And, Richard Miles is left-handed.

However, the biggest piece of evidence was kept from everyone by the Dallas police:  a woman had telephoned the cops long before the trial and told them her ex-boyfriend was the killer.  The caller told the police that her ex not only told her that he was the one responsible for the crimes for which Richard Miles was being tried, but he had the 9 mm pistol used in the shootings — and he actually showed her the gun. 

Now, the details of what the caller told the cops was noted by someone at the Police Department.  However, the memo with all the details about her call got filed away, and was not found until the files were being reviewed these many years later. 

What Happens Now?

Judge Chatham released Richard Miles yesterday, and while he told Miles yesterday that he could not personally guarantee what the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals would do (can anyone????), he believes that the high court will overturn Miles’ convictions.  Then, Richard Miles was released by Judge Chatham on his personal recognizance and allowed to walk outdoors and into the waiting arms of his mother, friends, and family. 

Now, let’s see.  Will there be a new arrest in this cold case — or will this case just fade away?