OFFICER AWARDED 20 G

In a judgment that was given today, $20,000.00 was awarded to Gilbert Hyde who had sued the government and police department for loss of liberty, mental anguish, and indignity he suffered when he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder on February 15th, 2008. Hyde was also awarded $5,000.00 for court cost. Hyde's attorney was able to prove to the court that her client's arrest and charge was unreasonable and unjustified. She said the police charged Hyde even though they had already gotten a confession statement from Ryan Staine that he had committed the murder and that Hyde was not involved. Hyde was imprisoned an entire 18 days before he was released on directive from the director of public prosecutions to have the charge withdrawn because there was no evidence against him. The charges against Hyde arose from a shooting incident which occurred on February 14th, 2008. In the incident, two persons were killed and a third person was injured. At the time, Hyde and Ryan Felix were riding on Central American Boulevard. Police, at the time, believed that Felix was the shooter and that he and Hyde had conspired to commit the murders. Sergeant Nicholas Palomo testified that Staine had given a confession statement before Hyde was arrested and charged.