Georgia prosecutor seeks homicide indictment for cop who killed unarmed veteran…

Robert James, the district attorney in DeKalb County, said during a news conference that a grand jury will have several options for charges against Robert Olsen when it hears the case on January 21.

Anderson said she had nearly given up hope after the recent decisions not to prosecute officers in a string of fatal police shootings of unarmed suspects.

A civil grand jury then weighed the information, and that grand jury, James said Thursday, chose to present the information to a criminal grand jury. In Georgia, a prosecutor can not bring charges without a grand jury indictment.

He said he will seek indictments on charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, violation of oath of office and giving false testimony.

Officers said it started when Olsen responded to a suspicious person call at The Heights at Chamblee apartments on Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.

As for what caused the officer to pull the trigger, Officer Robert Olsen said that Hill lunged at him.

Olsen is white and Hill was black.

As the Times notes, witnesses say that Hill’s hands had been either up or to his sides, and that he did not listen to Olsen’s orders to stop.

“If I shot a naked guy in self-defense I wouldn’t get a chance to present my case before a grand jury”, said Marietta defense attorney Philip Holloway, a former prosecutor. A civil grand jury recommended against charges, but James said he planned to review that case as well.

Before the criminal grand jury, Olsen could enjoy a privilege unique to law enforcement officers in Georgia.

Efforts to reach Olsen, who has defended his actions, or his attorney were unsuccessful.

DeKalb County police spokesman Maj.

The added pressure to file charges may be because a civil grand jury looking into the case recommended in October that he take a closer look – though they didn’t recommend a criminal indictment.

“When the male saw the officer he charged, running at the officer”, the police chief said.