Kerrick Trial: CMPD Officer Testifies Use of Taser and Lethal Force

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CHARLOTTE, NC — CMPD Officer CT Thompson worked the 3rd shift with officer Wes Kerrick back in 2012. He testified to an incident where both he and Kerrick pulled tasers on a drug suspect who they thought was armed.

Afterwards they were counseled on what they should have done, by their supervisor, Lt. Eric Brady.

“He felt like, according to our training,  one should have had lethal, one should have lethal, one non-lethal since there was two of us there. So one should have had taser, one should have had service weapon,” said Officer Thompson.

In cross, the state tried to make the point that situation was different in warranting lethal force.

“They said that because both of you indicated you thought he had a weapon, and it was in a deadly force situation, though you chose to use lead force, someone should have been ready to retrieve firearm, is that correct?” said the state attorney.

“Yes ma’am,” said Officer Thompson.

The suspect did not have a gun, but Lt. Brady stood by his counsel, saying if the officers thought he did, they had to be prepared.

“You cannot transition from having less than lethal to lethal as fast as you need to if somebody comes out with a weapon,” said Lt. Eric Brady.

Another debate this morning: the defense wanted to take the jury for a viewing at the incident site in the middle of the night when it’s dark. The state objected and the judge denied the request.