Attorney For Cops Who Killed Man Says Dash Cam Video Works In Their Favor
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The attorney representing two Miami Gardens police officers, who were involved in the shooting death of a mentally ill man in February, said a just-released dash cam video shows evidence in their favor.
On Wednesday, the family of 25-year-old Lavall Hall released the dash cam video to the media.
They said they want the officers held accountable.
The family has filed a civil lawsuit saying the officers used excessive force and Hall did not have to die.
But Coral Gables attorney Oscar Marrero said the tape shows that officers were in fear for their lives.
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He said the officers, Peter Ehrlich and Eddo Tremino, were both hit in the head by Hall who was wielding a broom with a wooden handle and metal tip.
"Officer Ehrlich has crisis intervention training. The situation they responded to was difficult and they did their job," Marrero told CBS 4 News Reporter Joan Murray.
He said Officer Tremino who is seen in the video firing five shots at Hall, "was in fear for his life."
On Tuesday, the attorney representing the Hall family in the civil lawsuit, Glen Goldberg, said the "video is a blockbuster and bombshell."
"I don't know why he called it a bombshell. Like I don't understand how he can make some of his allegations when he doesn't have forensic evidence or the autopsy report," said Marrero.
Hall's family showed up at Wednesday's city council meeting in Miami Gardens. They want the officers dismissed from the force.
But the mayor told CBS4 he wanted the investigation to takes its course.
The Dade County state attorney is conducting an investigation into the actions of the officers and will determine whether their actions were justified.
"Once all the evidence is in you will see that what they did was constitutionally permissible legally appropriate," said Marrero.
