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Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008
Groups protest delay in jail death case
County state's attorney says second grand jury has convened to discuss charges
By Daniel Valentine | Staff Writer
 
Brenda Ahearn/The Gazette-Star
Ronnie L. Harris, father of Ronnie L. White, and Jerry McLaurin of People for Change, rally Monday in Upper Marlboro for an indictment against the guards at the jail in the death of Ronnie White.

Upset that no charges have been filed nearly six months after an inmate died at the county jail under questionable circumstances, a small crowd led a protest Monday outside the county courthouse calling for prosecutors to take more action.

About 20 people marched in the cold as they called for State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) to issue an indictment against corrections officers who protesters believe killed Ronnie L. White in his cell on June 29.

"Who killed Ronnie White? Prince George's County!" the group chanted as they carried signs and shouted on a bullhorn.

White, a 19-year-old from Laurel who had been charged with murder in the death of Prince George's County Police Cpl. Richard Findley last summer, was found dead in his solitary cell at the Upper Marlboro jail during his second day in custody. No charges have been filed, though two guards implicated in a state police investigation have been suspended since September.

FBI officials are also allegedly investigating conditions at the county jail for possible civil rights violations.

The suspensions came as Maryland Medical Examiners issued a report ruling White's death as a homicide by asphyxiation. Guards have allegedly told investigators that White hung himself in his cell and they panicked, hiding the bed sheet he allegedly used, though examiners say that his broken neck is not consistent with suicide.

The case has attracted national attention and brought up lingering concerns about police-involved deaths in the county that date back to the early 1990s.

People For Change, a political advocacy group of county residents that has been critical of the county government and school board, led Monday's rally. At the protest, members accused county officials of delaying the investigation and failing in their duties.

"Ronnie White did not get his due justice," said Jerry McLaurin of Fort Washington, who led the protest. "It was [County Executive] Jack Johnson's responsibility to protect him."

McLaurin and others also asked why Ivey has not indicted the guards. "What's the reason Glenn Ivey did not get an indictment? Is he afraid of something?" McLaurin asked the crowd.

The protest was sparked by recent news that a first grand jury convened to hear the case disbanded this month without an indictment. Ivey said the group's three-month term had expired and that a second panel has already been formed. He would not say if the first grand jury voted on whether to charge the two guards before disbanding, citing confidentiality rules.

"We continue the investigation," Ivey said after the early morning rally. "But we can't turn this into a political football. … Prosecutors can't make a decision just based on how many protesters are hanging outside their window."

No elected officials took part in the rally.

"They don't come out today, they don't come back in 2010," McLaurin said, referring to the next county election.

The protest was also sponsored by county resident group People's Coalition for Police Accountability and CASA of Maryland, a state immigrant advocacy group.

CASA officials said they are also waiting to hear on the status of the death of Manuel de Jesus Espina of Langley Park who was shot Aug. 28 by an off-duty police officer working security at a Langley Park apartment complex.

Police initially said Officer Steven Jackson shot Espina and his son when the pair tried to overpower him as he was arresting the older man for an alcohol violation. Witnesses have said Jackson allegedly shot the elder Espina after beating him, and that the man was not resisting arrest.

Jackson, who was wearing his police uniform at the job, has been placed on leave since the shooting, which police are still investigating. Assault charges were dropped against Espina's son just before he was to go to trial in October for allegedly fighting with Jackson. "That officer has yet to be brought to trial, yet to be indicted, yet to be brought to justice," said CASA spokesman David Thurston.

Ivey met with CASA and coalition officials after the protest in his office. Reporters were barred from the meeting. Representatives of People for Change left before Ivey arrived.