Pubdate: Mon, 08 Oct 2001
Source: The Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2001, Southeast Missourian
Contact: http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/speakout/submit/
Website: http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322

PROSECUTOR BACKS COMMENTS CALLING SLAIN MEN 'BUMS'

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis County's prosecutor stands behind his comments 
describing as "bums" two men fatally shot by a police officer and 
federal drug agent last year outside a restaurant.

Robert McCulloch offered the characterization Wednesday, when a U.S. 
attorney said federal investigators lack sufficient evidence to 
charge the police officer and Drug Enforcement Administration agent 
with civil rights violations in the deaths of the drug suspect and 
his friend.

Now criticized by some lawyers over his choice of words, McCulloch 
said he doesn't regret them.

"The print media and self-anointed activists have been portraying the 
two gentlemen as folk heroes and have been vilifying the police," 
McCulloch told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I think it is important 
for the public to know that these two and others like them for years 
have spread destruction in the community dealing crack cocaine and 
heroin."

"The entire tragedy could have been avoided" if Earl Murray -- the 
suspect -- had surrendered, McCulloch said. Murray and a passenger , 
Ronald Beasley, were shot to death during an attempted drug arrest at 
a Jack in the Box restaurant in June 2000.

Report Clears Police

On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Raymond Gruender publicly presented 
results of a yearlong investigation that said it uncovered nothing to 
prove beyond a reasonable doubt DEA agent Keith Kierzkowski and St. 
Louis County police drug task force Detective Robert Piekutowski 
"fired with a bad purpose."

Gruender said the two officers were among 13 federal and local 
authorities who planned to arrest Murray, seen twice previously 
selling crack cocaine to an undercover informant the day of the 
shooting on the Berkeley eatery's lot. Shortly after arriving at the 
restaurant, the officers trapped Murray's car between two Ford 
Explorers, Gruender said. The officers got out of the sport utility 
vehicle in front of Murray's car and told the occupants they were 
under arrest.

Separated by 10 feet from Murray's car, both men told investigators 
they fired at Murray, in fear for their lives, when they thought he 
began to pull forward and drive at them.
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