BORDERLAND
High court: Union can aid local officer
1/24/2014The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the national Fraternal Order of Police may weigh in on Lucas County’s appeal in the case of a former Ottawa Hills police officer who shot a motorcyclist during a traffic stop.
The county is appealing a decision by Ohio’s 6th District Court of Appeals to reverse the conviction of Thomas White for felonious assault with a gun specification for the May, 2009, shooting of Michael McCloskey. The appeals court cited problems with jury instructions in White’s trial, ordered a new trial, and threw out the gun specification.
The high court said the FOP may share the time allotted to White during oral arguments set for Feb. 5. The FOP said in its motion to the court that this case “presents matters of significant interest to law enforcement.”