HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-1998 Articles Iowa CiO'
added that the former officer al.so_vail]
not contacted for the nves, gat on
Police Chief R.J. Winkethake said
he needed to call Nickerson at hi~
Mnines office this afternoon. When
Thos~ who spoke.o~ ?~1~ askedifthatwastheonlycommunica.;
Shaw · ·
matter didnolwantto. non he received on the miter,
ed and named, saying Winkethake said thai: was the ~
commem should come fi-om thing on which he could comme_n~~
U.S. Attorney Don Nickersoe, Nicker*on said early in ~e f~
and the Justice Department. investigation that he agreed
case ..... Nickerson has an .pub *ed Wh,,e's ec,s,o. no, ,o
Des Moines telephone number. Gillaspie, based on state law.
He and other federal officials Nickerson, along with an FBI
could not he reached for com- invesligaton reviewed much of the
men, Thursday night, same information as White. He said. itl
lay Eiri~fl Shatr~ Gillaspie resigned fi'om the November 1996 that other, federal
~he Press-Citizen force Oct. 1, 1996, after an civil rights charges werR possible.
A decision by the U.S. internal investigation recom-
Juslice Department. to be mended his termination. He However. the standard of proof--the
detailed in a press conference ' amount of evidence needed to merit a
Tuesday. has concluded that no since has left Iowa City. ~t remains conviction on a charge -- is much
charges will ~ liled in the 1996 living in Iowa. On Oct. 3. 1996. higher for federal crimes than it is for
~'atal police shooti, ng of Eric Johnson County Attorney J. Pa~Sck state crimes, he said.
Shaw. multiple sources con- White ruled that, though unjustified,
firmed Thursday. the shooting was not criminal. A Thursday and could not be reached for
comment. Jim Shaw. Jay's brother,
The look at possible civil seven-member grand jury. after abo~t said he had not heard that the federal
fights violations was the last one momh of deliberation, decided
option for the Shaw family. Oct. 9. 1997 not to indict Gillaspie. investigation concluded without
action. Jim Shaw said that he. too. has
Eric Shaw. 31. was shot late City Manager Steve Atkins would been unable to contact Jay and
Aug. 30. 1996 by former Iowa not confirm any details about the Blossom Shaw.
City Police Officer Jeffrey upcoming federal announcement. The Justice Department sent area
GiIlaspie. The 26-year-old offi- Ark,ns said only that he learned of a media a release shortly betbre 4:30
cer was invest,eating an open possible conclus on some t me ag . p.m. Thursday. The release stated that
door and later explained that he bu, had not received anything official, Nickerson would hold a press confer-
tlinched and [ired his gun. Iowa City police Del, Troy Kelsay, ence at the Iowa City Public Library
Shaw. who was inside talking who wag with Gillaspie ~vhen Shaw on Tuesday "to advise the media of
on the telephone at the time. was killed, said he had a notice from the result of the United State's
was struck in the chest and died ~ae Justice Department in his depart- ' Department of Jus,ice's inqttiry into
at the scene, glo criminal men, mailbox Thursday night. Kelsay the shooting death of Eric Shaw in
charges were filed, sa d he could not comment on the co~- August 199C"
After nearly 21 mort,las of tam of that notice. The Associated Press. in an inde-
on-and-off investigation, the Eric Shaw's parents. Jay and pendent report, alsoconfirmedthatthe
Justice Department has sent Blossom Shaw. were traveling Justice Department had dropped its
notice to Iowa City officials as
well as others involved. The investigation.
~aw family was notified of the "As /hr as we know. the federal
attorney just did a lot of rehashing."
.¢sults by mail as early as last said Shaw family a,torney John
week. sources said. McLario, reached by telephone' at his
Milwaukee home. Federal invas,igar'
,ors never contacted him or. to the hes,
of his knowledge, the Shaw family.