 Dawes County
The Grand Jury investigating the shooting death of 16 year old Jesse Britton of Crawford has determined the shooting was unjustified. The jury has indicted Crawford Police Chief Rick Thompson and a charge of Second Degree Assault has been filed against him. The charge is a Class 3-A felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. District Court Judge Brian Silverman issued an arrest warrant, andThompson was arrested by the Nebraska State Patroland placed in custody in the Dawes County Jail. Judge Silverman set Thompson's bondat $50,000 cash. As a condition of the bond set by Judge Silverman, Thompson must not leave the State of Nebraska without permissionfrom the court;he must not violate any laws, hewill not be allowed to have any firearms, and he is NOT to enter the city limits ofCrawford. Thompson will be arraigned on January 8th at 1:30 pm The grand jury found no fault against The Nebraska Game and Parks officer who was present at the time of the shooting. Britton was shot and killed by Thompson on October 3. Officers were responding to a reported break-in in the vacant Frontier Bar at the time of the shooting. The Grand Jury consisted of 16 members with three alternates. Morrill County Attorney Jean Rhodes served as the special prosecutor. Scottsbluff Attorney Bob Chaloupka represents the Britton family and told Double Q Country radio the Britton family is now contemplating whether or not to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Click on the link below to hear more. |