According to a outside source familiar with the Port Wentworth police department the internal investigation of the officers involved in the shooting death of unarmed Deshone Travis is officially over. The source said, "The officers have been 'internally cleared' by Port Wentworth police Chief Matt Libby and the internal investigation has found the officers justified in the shooting death of Mr. Travis." The source also stated,"The officers still remain on administrative leave." Chief Libby has maintained since the shooting that, "Mr. Travis was given verbal commands to stop, which he refused to obey. He placed the vehicle in reverse and attempted to drive out of the driveway rapidly towards officers who were standing to the rear of the vehicle."
Additionally, according to the source, the internal police investigation contends that the officers involved in the shooting, "found evidence in Mr. Travis's vehicle linking him to the robbery of a Wendy's food establishment in Pooler, Ga." The source did not comment on what specific evidence the police have. The department has never publicly commented on any discovery or confiscation of evidence from Deshone Travis's vehicle linking him to a robbery.
Also, according to the source Port Wentworth police in their investigation will allege, "Mr. Travis snatched his keys from a officer and attempted to flee in his vehicle."
Algerene McKinnon, a witness who owns the house where the incident occurred, has maintained Mr. Travis consented to a search of his vehicle and once completed the McKinnon said, "Port Wentworth police gave Deshone back his keys."
McKinnon believes Deshone Travis was under the impression he could freely leave when he was handed back his keys to vehicle. Once Mr. Travis started backing down the driveway McKinnon said, "All three officers fired their weapons."
Mr. McKinnon has maintained it was only after officers discharged their weapons that one officer assumed a position behind Mr.Travis's vehicle.
Its extremely difficult to believe that officers would allow a robbery suspect to physically snatch a set of keys without some type of struggle by officers to apprehend the individual. Even if a struggle did not ensue the officers could have drew their weapons and threatened to use deadly force if Mr. Travis did not comply with their commands. If evidence was found in Mr. Travis's vehicle linking him to a robbery then the police should have immediately handcuffed Mr.Travis, read him his rights and placed him under arrest.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and State Police have yet to release any official investigative report on the shooting.
It will be interesting to see if the GBI and State Police final reports support the hastily conducted internal investigation by the Port Wentworth police department.
www.truthatlarge.blogspot.com