TS - 09/14/2006 Witnesses from the Third Day of the Moore Inquest

Witnesses from the Third Day of the Moore Inquest 09/14/2006

Day 3:Thursday, Sept. 14

Tim Jones
SWAT team member, testified did not see a flare gun in Cheri Lyn Moore's hands when he shot her with a "less lethal" weapon - a compressed air gun. Jones testified that "by no means" is the less lethal weapon immediately effective or disabling. When asked, he said he didnít know if his equipment was capable of stopping a flare and said the only fire retardant part of his uniform were his gloves. "My neck is right above my vest," Jones said. "I would have to have (a flare) deflected into my neck or face."

Rodrigo Reyna-Sanchez
A SWAT member, testified the team trains twice a week. He said he knew Moore from previous contacts. Reyna-Sanchez said he "heard shots before I even entered the room."

J.J. O'Neil
A paramedic, he testified Moore was handcuffed and face down when he entered the apartment. He said he check for heart rhythm and found none.

Robert Mengal
He acted a police observer on April 14. He said Moore saw him across he street and seemed to purposely not point the flare gun at him. Mengal's statement said he was never in direct communication about giving a "hands empty" signal but it was discussed on the police radio. He also said he knew giving the word would mean SWAT would enter.

James Dawson
An nvestigator with the District Attorney's Office, testified the Critical Incident Response Team did a "lengthy investigation." He said the compiled information fills three, three-inch folders.

David Douglas
Police chief, he testified he did not take over command at the scene but was ultimately responsible. He said there were concerns about the flare gun causing a fire and that it would spread rapidly because of a crawl space above Moore's apartment. When asked, Douglas testified mental health workers were not called to the scene because they do not currently do field responses. He said police and mental heath are working to establish a protocol for responding to locations involving individuals with mental illnesses. "Hopefully, one of the silver linings is we'll end up with this response," Douglas said.

Christopher Andrews
An investigator with the District Attorneyís Office. He testified that he was part of the Critical Incident Response Team. He said he drew blood from the officers involved to look for traces of alcohol.

Judy Taylor
An evidence technician with the Eureka Police Department. She testified that the flare gun Moore was seen with was cocked when it was recovered from Mooreís apartment. She also said that fingerprints could not be lifted off the flare gun.

Matthew Kristen
A criminalist with the California Department of Justice. He also testified that the flare gun was in the cocked position, demonstrating to the jury on the gun Moore actually used. Kristen testified that the blood taken from the officers involved had no signs of alcohol. He said some shotgun pellets were found in the neighboring apartment.

Charles Van Buskirk
Deputy coroner with the Humboldt County Coroner's Office. He testified that he took custody of Moore's body later the same night she was shot. He testified that Moore's toxicology report came back with negative signs of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs."