Policeman to face Manslaughter Charges

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE 18 YEAR OLD FREDERICK REYNOLDS WAS KILLED BY A POLICEMAN IN CROOKED TREE - BUT THAT OFFICER WAS JUST TODAY CHARGED FOR THE TEENAGER'S DEATH. 27 YEAR OLD MERVIN VERNON - WHO HAS BEEN ON INTERDICTION SINCE THE SHOOTING DEATH IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR - WAS TODAY FORMALLY ARRAIGNED ON A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER BY NEGLIGENCE, AND CAUSING DEATH BY CARELESS CONDUCT BEFORE MAGISTRATE DOROTHY FLOWERS. WHILE THE CRIMINAL CHARGE IS NOTABLE - IT IS NOT LIKELY TO SATISFY THE REYNOLDS FAMILY - WHICH CLAIMS THAT THEIR RELATIVE WAS SHOT WITH MURDEROUS INTENT. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE FINDING OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATION, AND VERNON WAS BAILED FOR 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE NEXT APPEARS ON AUGUST 12, 2002. THE VERNON ARREST IS THE FIRST CRIMINAL CHARGE TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST AN OFFICER AFTER FOUR CIVILLIANS WERE KILLED BY POLICE FIRE BETWEEN SEPTMEBER AND DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. ENDS......