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Indybay Feature

Public Letter to DA Ravitch

by Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez
Dear Madam District Attorney: For over 8 months, you have asked Sonoma County residents to remain patient while you decide whether or not you intend to charge Deputy Gelhaus with criminal wrongdoing in the shooting of 13-year -old Andy Lopez last Oct. 22nd.
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Dear Madam District Attorney:

For over 8 months, you have asked Sonoma County residents to remain patient while you decide whether or not you intend to charge Deputy Gelhaus with criminal wrongdoing in the shooting of 13-year -old Andy Lopez last Oct. 22nd.

For over 8 months, we have signed petitions, asked Attorney General Kamala Harris to intervene, prayed, cried, marched, picketed, and attended Santa Rosa City Council meetings and Sonoma County Board of Supervisors’ meetings.

For over 8 months, we have stood, week after week, at the doorstep of your office in the Hall of Justice, educating all those entering the courthouse about the facts of Deputy Gelhaus’ wrongful shooting of a young boy carrying a toy gun.

For the last few weeks, many in the Santa Rosa, as well as Sonoma County, have been on edge awaiting your decision. You waited until the schools let out so that the students couldn’t walk out, you waited until after you won the election, and you are still stalling.

Indeed, for the last three weeks, many of us in this city and county have been on pins and needles awaiting your decision. We know that you have the Sheriffs working double-shifts, we know that you have cancelled vacations and we know that you have issued “Talking Points” to city and county employees threatening protestors with arrests.

We also know that last Friday June 27th, you planned a noon press conference to announce your decision – but abruptly cancelled it without explanation. Once again, you're wavering and failure to announce a decision caused ripples of distress and anger.

We have done a comparative study with San Mateo County just across the bridge:

• In the June 3rd, 2014, officer-involved shooting of 18-year old Yanira Serrano in Half Moon Bay, DA Wagstaffe ordered the Sheriffs’ Department off the case. Only independent investigators from the DA’s staff are investigating to avoid law enforcement bias!
• The DA’s investigation will be completed within 10 weeks of the incident!
• DA Wagstaffe has offered to attend a town meeting to explain all the facts for the public to examine all the documents and investigation that led to his decision.

Madam DA – our patience has run out! We demand you act NOW to INDICT Erick Gelhaus! Justice for Andy Lopez!


Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez: http://justicecoalitionforandylopez.com/
Andy’s Youth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndysYouthTeam

http://justicecoalitionforandylopez.com/2014/07/03/public-letter-to-da-ravitch-07-01-2014/
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