Trial delayed in police shooting case

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 5:29 p.m.

Metro Police

Emmanuel Dozier

The jury trial for a man accused of shooting three Metro SWAT officers has been delayed and rescheduled for Nov. 16.

Emmanuel Dozier, 32, was arrested after police say he shot three officers as they conducted a narcotics raid Dec. 28 at his Seven Hills home.

Dozier, who originally was scheduled for trial on March 2 in District Court, pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder, three counts of battery with a deadly weapon and three counts of selling cocaine.

Dozier's lawyer, Joseph Abood, said previously that his client did not realize it was the police outside his house and acted in self-defense.

Dozier posted $75,000 bail last month and is now out of custody — a factor that District Attorney David Roger suggested may have played into the defense's motion to reset the trial date.

"Typically, when they are in custody, defendants invoke their right to a trial within 60 days," Roger said. "Once out of custody, there's no real benefit to a quicker trial. Stalling and delaying is a good tactic for the defense."

Abood could not immediately be reached for comment.

The night of the shooting, Dozier was at the home he shared with his girlfriend, Belinda Saavedra, their 3-month-old son and Saavedra's 13-year-old daughter.

After SWAT officers were unsuccessful in trying to breach the front door, they began to break through an adjacent window. That, police say, is when shots were fired from inside the house.

Two officers were each hit once in the leg. Another was hit in the leg and the hand, and a third round to his chest was stopped by a bulletproof vest.

Metro Police Sgt. James Causey testified during Dozier's preliminary hearing on Jan. 20 that he and his fellow officers repeatedly shouted, "Police, search warrant!"

Saavedra and her 13-year-old daughter were also in the house and testified they never heard the words "police" or "search warrant."

Jeff O’Brien can be reached at 990-8957 or jeff.obrien@hbcpub.com.

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By starrynite7

March 4, 2009

5:59 p.m.

Flag

Of course Saavedra and 13-year-old daughter are going to lie about not hearing the words "police" or "search warrant." I bet they sure hear the words, "drug-deal" and "gimme the money" around the house. My sympathies lie with the children caught in the crossfire of this hideous lifestyle.
By afveteran

March 4, 2009

7:55 p.m.

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I daresay that the Metro SWAT team members exhibited exemplary self-control by withholding lethal fire in retaliation for 3 members going down with wounds.