I'm going to hopefully get it all through the search: 2/17
Good morning! The first prosecution witness today in the federal hate crimes trial of #AhmaudArbery's murderers is Glynn County Police Officer Robert Rash, a patrolman who's been with the department almost 11 years. Satilla Shores was part of his responsibility. @wsbradio
He described Satilla Shores as quiet, middle-class, mostly older families, not many kids to play in the area, just a few petty crimes, nothing serious. Rash first heard from Larry English about a guy in his house under construction Oct. 25, 2019. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash said the guy was just walking around the unwalled, open house; he didn't take anything. He'd never seen him before. Rash didn't find anyone when he arrived. Asked people he saw out if they'd seen the guy English sent him screenshots of that night. #AhmaudArbery
Rash says his intention was to find the guy and give English the option to "trespass him," meaning tell the guy the homeowner didn't want him there. Trespassing requires the accused has knowledge they're not wanted there; then someone could be arrested. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
English would alert Rash whenever the Black male was on the property. On Nov. 18, English sent video of the Black male who'd been back there the night before. The guy was "plundering around, being nosy, walking on the dock," but didn't bother anything. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash said English never suggested to him that the Black guy on the videos had taken anything. Dec. 1, English called Rash to tell him about someone under the bridge Nov. 17. He had video of an unidentified white couple on his property at night. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash and English both found it concerning that the white man was carrying a canvas tool bag that could contain tools/drill set; they tools could've been used to commit a crime, and/or the bag could be used to conceal items they might steal. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash said if he'd found the white man and woman, he would have done the same as if he'd found the Black man--give the homeowner the opportunity to trespass them. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
English's call Dec. 1 was because he'd seen a car near the bridge that was similar to what he saw on video Nov. 17 and asked Rash to check it out; he'd heard rumors someone was living under the bridge. He checked it out Dec. 2, didn't find anything #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Dec. 8, Ofcr. Rash responded to the Herndon residence in response to a firearm theft from an unlocked vehicle. The suspect captured on surveillance video was a white male. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
At some later date, Rash learned Travis McMichael had had a gun stolen from his vehicle. Rash says no, the white male suspect who stole the gun seen on video has never been caught. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Prosecutor begins asking Rash about some agreement agreed to by parties. (My connection to court is lost. Gotta get back in) #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Back in and heard Rash saying something about "It was a roommate of RW, who is white. The roommate who got arrested is white. Some other white resident of Satilla Shores had also had run-ins with the law: drug use, theft, running from the police" #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Then Rash said before Dec. 1 he was trying to find the unidentified Black male. He'd show neighbors the photo to see if they'd seen him. After Dec. 1 he would show screenshots of the white individuals, too. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash had said earlier that the W/M suspect's photo was put into the neighborhood FB group) #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Dec 20 2020, Rash saw Greg McMichael in his front yard as Rash drove by. He recognized him from previously being in law enforcement. Convo was same as with others--looking for people trespassing--shows GM pics of the white couple and the Black guy #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio224
Greg McMichael offered Ofc. Rash his phone number. Rash told McMichael his concerns about the bag the white couple had. Never suggested the Black guy had stolen anything. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Feb. 11 2020 was next time he saw Greg McMichael. Travis McMichael had called 911; Rash was told there was a burglary in progress and that the male in question had been "reaching in his pocket or waistband" #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash and other officers responded. They didn't find anyone. The McMichaels and neighbor Diego Perez were there. Rash called Larry English, asked him to check videos; he did, and sent to Rash. English said the Black guy had not been seen taking anything #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash conversed with Greg and Travis McMichael. Jury sees bodycam video of Feb. 11, 2020. Travis said the Black guy ran into the house when he'd splashed his car headlights on him. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
They talked about the Black male being seen in the house and that he had not been seen taking anything. Rash shows McMichaels video. Same Black male on the visits. An expensive saw is in video worth $500-700. the man never touches it #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Rash said across the four months #AhmaudArbery visited, he never took anything. English wanted to ID him "to find out why he kept coming back." Rash is unaware of any other contact with that property between Feb. 11 and the day of shooting Feb. 23 #AhmaudArbery
They reiterated that the Herndon's gun thief is a white guy #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
A.J. Balbo, Greg McMichael's attorney, is doing cross. After English called, how long did it take you to get there? Estimate. Rash says 5-10 minutes without any delays/duties in the way. Balbo asks how well area was illuminated. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Oct. 25 when Rash got there he went to Sube Lawrence's property; English had said the Black man had gone that direction. She wasn't there but another neighbor, Diego Perez was nearby because Lawrence had called him about Black male being on her front porch #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Diego Perez was looking for the Black male. Rash didn't learn of the white folks visiting Nov. 17 until Dec. 1. When Rash got the Nov 18 call from Dispatch about the Black man being on the property it took 5-10 minutes again. He didn't find anyone there. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Level of concern of English?: Rash says he wanted to know who it was, why, concern of him being on dock, liability for falling in, safety. Rash, when asking neighbors, didn't find anyone who knew or had seen the guy. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
English called Rash regularly; a lot of times Rash had to tell him he wasn't on duty, call the department. So he was concerned not just about Arbery but about several? Yes. When he mentioned people under bridge, he referred to white couple he'd seen? Yes #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Balbo: English suspected they stole his electronics, Yeti cooler? Rash: Something, because they had the bag. Couldn't fit cooler in that. Balbo: Ever learn anyone else went out to that bridge to investigate? Prosecution: Objection #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Balbo: Dec 20, 2019 when you were on patrol and saw Greg McMichael, you told him about suspicious characters: #AhmaudArbery, the white couple, suspect who'd taken Herndon's firearm? Yes. Shared English videos? Yes. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Balbo: You thought Greg McMichael and his years of investigation might be helpful, his powers of perception? Rash: Yes. In that private conversation, did McMichael use any kind of racial epithet to describe #AhmaudArbery? Rash: No he did not @wsbadio
Balbo: On the night of Feb 11, Travis McMichael is the one who saw something suspicious and called 911? Rash: Yes. You and fellow officers cleared it? Right. Could be dangerous if you don't know what you're getting into? Right. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Balbo: It sounds like on video you three are kind of brainstorming. Rash: Correct. Talked about other thefts in neighborhood? There was no hard or soft evidence showing #AhmaudArbery had committed crimes? Yes. But investigating must keep open mind? Yes @wsbradio
Balbo: Agree that #AhmaudArbery visiting several times in dark is a little suspicious? Rash: To me, yes. Balbo: Not because he's a Black man? Rash: No. Visits over and over, after dark. Balbo: No evidence white couple came back over and over? Rash: No @wsbradio
Travis McMichael attorney Pete Theodocion's cross: You're familiar with Satilla Shores before Feb 23, 2020; any problems with burglary? Rash: No. Only gun from Herndons. Roddie Bryan never talked to you about that, trespassing, anything? Rash: Correct #AhmaudArbery
Theodocion: There were no "no trespassing" signs. No one knew they were unwelcome. If someone wanted to walk out and have a sandwiches and beers from their bag on the dock, that's not unlawful? Rash: Until Mr. English trespasses them #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Theodocion: But if they're there for an unlawful purpose to steal? Rash: If they'd been told. T: But if they were there with that intent, that's criminal trespassing? R: Yes. The moment they walked under the roof, with criminal intent, that's burglary? yes #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Amy Lee Copeland's cross for Travis McMichael: Plays Feb 11 911 call for jury. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Isn't that the most accurate record of what Travis McMichael said happened? Yes. Rash tells Copeland the police response was lights and sirens. She asked, isn't the English property kind of in the main drag of that street? He says yes #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
AUSA Bernstein redirect: The 911 call Copeland played, Travis McMichael said we've had "a string of burglaries" and then "a lot of burglaries." In the entire year leading to Feb. 23, how many? Rash: I responded to none. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Mr. Theodocion asked you about break-ins: What did you mean? Rash: Entering autos. Locked or unlocked? Rash: It was unlocked.
AUSA: Why did you think Greg McMichael would be a good witness? Rash: Based on his training he'd know what we'd need to know: Description, what direction he ran. More accurate than people who mix up details. Thought he'd call 911 if he saw the Black guy. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
AUSA: Did you think he'd get in his truck and chase after him? Ofc. Rash: No ma'am. AUSA: Did you think he'd arm himself and go after him? Expect him to point a gun at him and threaten to blow his head off? Rash: No ma'am. Was that your intent? No ma'am #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
AUSA: How many violent crimes, leading up to and including Feb. 23, 2020, were there in Satilla Shores? Ofcr. Rash: One. AUSA: The death of #AhmaudArbery? Rash: Yes. @wsbradio
Rash explains a "burlgary in progress" warrants lights and sirens even if there is no firearm. Travis McMichael said "He's in there right now with a flashlight" on the 911 call. Was that true? No. That was Diego Perez #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Diego claimed he'd been watching the place the whole time. Rash later learned that was untrue--he had gone home #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
AUSA: If someone had called 911 and said there's a young man in shorts and a tee with nothing in his hands, ambling around a wide-open building, would police have responded lights and sirens? Rash: No #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
A juror sent a note asking who the 2nd lawyer was questioning Larry English in the video deposition. The Judge says that was a lawyer for Travis McMichael. None of those lawyers are involved here. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Government calls Anne Kisler-Rao, who works in the Trace Evidence section of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. They analyze small, often microscopic evidence. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
This, after entering an agreed-upon stipulation about a Glynn Co. policeman who collected prints and fibers from defendant Roddie Bryan's black pickup truck and listing its evidence numbers. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Travis McMichael texted his friend a photo of someone in a tee that said "At least I'm not a
." The person in the tee appears to be disabled. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
Kisler-Rao describes comparing white cotton fibers from truck with #AhmaudArbery's tee, which was white, "originally." She couldn't use the whole thing because "The tee was almost covered in reddish-brown stains" and it was hard to find a white area. @wsbradio
The fibers from Roddie Bryan's truck and from #AhmaudArbery's T-shirt were consistent, said Kisler-Rao. Pete Theodocion's cross is brief: White cotton si very prevalent fiber? K-R: Yes. So it's "possible" it's from that tee but that's as far as you can go? Correct @wsbradio
Dr. Edmund Donoghue, forensic pathologist and medical examiner at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, is the next prosecution witness in the hate crimes trial. He performed the autopsy on #AhmaudArbery's body. @wsbradio
Dr. Donoghue has given the jury information on his medical and career background, and about the autopsy process. Now they're about to launch into details of the #AhmaudArbery autopsy. @wsbradio
They scrolled briefly through a subset of pictures. #AhmaudArbery's body was clothed. He had nothing in his pockets. Stated age was 25, and he looked like it. He weighed 164, 5'10", muscular. @wsbradio
Donoghue acknowledges that Yes, it's sometimes hard for people to look at autopsy pictures, even though the office tries to clean them up. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
#AhmaudArbery had marks on forehead and around right eye; they are abrasions. There are lacerations above the lip, just below the nose. Donoghue says it's typical of an unguarded fall, when someone fell on their face. @wsbradio
Dr. Donoghue circles 2 medically-significant injuries on #AhmaudArbery: a wound in his chest, and by his left upper chest/armpit area. Third wound was on his right wrist, a grazing shotgun wound. @wsbradio
The "grazing" wound was in fact very deep & involves the ulnar artery and ulnar vein; grazing means going sideways/tangentially over the body. #AhmaudArbery @wsbradio
I'm doing my best with these. I'll be back later for more.
