By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The local Fraternal Order of Police group is inviting the public to its May meeting to hear Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield discuss responsibilities and consequences associated with citizens’ use of deadly force.
The gathering is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday May 9 at the Lewis and Clark Apartments at 117 W. Magnolia Street in Centralia.
The question to be addressed is when is it okay for a citizen to use deadly force to protect themselves or their property, according to a news release from the F.O.P. Centerville Lodge No. 26.
Twice in recent years a Lewis County citizen has used deadly force against persons they discovered on their property which resulted in death and ended up in court.
In 2002, a 65-year-old man was charged with manslaughter after he fatally shot a presumed burglar on his property in rural Centralia. He was found not guilty by a jury.
Last spring, 60-year-old Ronald A. Brady fired at two suspected burglars on his Onalaska property, killing one of them. Sheriff Mansfield made it clear he believed the shooting to be justified and announced he would not arrest Brady.
The Lewis County Prosecutors Office however, charged Brady with manslaughter and then upgraded the charge to first-degree murder. The case is awaiting trial.
Sheriff’s detective Sgt. Dusty Breen will join the sheriff in the presentation. A question and answer session will be included, according to F.O.P event chair Bradd Reynolds.
For further information, contact Reynolds at 360-520-6562.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter