Commanders' arraignment in Moore case continued
Superior Court Judge Timothy Cissna agreed today to continue the arraignment of former Eureka Police Chief David Douglas and Lt. Tony Zanotti on involuntary manslaughter charges until April 1.
Deputy District Attorney Maggie Fleming said District Attorney Paul Gallegos and the defense agreed to the continuation before Thursday's arraignment hearing to allow the defense time to receive and review copies of the evidence exhibits presented during the criminal grand jury proceedings.
Fleming said both sides agreed on the April 1 date.
The District Attorney's Office officially announced on Dec. 3 that a criminal grand jury convened to look into the April 14, 2006 police shooting death of Cheri Lyn Moore handed up indictments stemming from Douglas and Zanotti's decision-making roles in the incident.
Moore, who had a history of mental illness and was reportedly distraught over the anniversary of her son's death, brandished a flare gun, threw items out the window of her second-story apartment and threatened to burn the building down during the more than two-hour standoff.
Officers have said they believed Moore had put down the flare gun when the decision was made to storm her apartment but, upon entering, SWAT team members said Moore had the weapon pointed at them. Moore was shot nine times.
The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 02/21/2008 02:25:58 PM PST
