RSSLive Blog

Live coverage: Inquest into fatal shooting

A coroner’s jury will determine if a Billings police officer was justified when he fatally shot a burglary suspect who was driving off in his patrol car in January

3rd & 7 37yd

Finnegan confirmed that an officer-involved shooting commands same amount of resources, manpower as a homicide

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:07:27 PM
Finnegan was working in BPD detective division on Jan. 6, was called out investigate. Brought crime scene van.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:08:39 PM
Finnegan was assigned as lead/primary investigator

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:10:21 PM
Finnegan: " The majority of the detective division was called in to assist."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:10:49 PM
W/ detectives en route to the hospital and the jail, Finnegan began searching for witnesses on Miles Ave

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:13:19 PM
Also found a rifle hidden there

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:33:03 PM
Finnegan said the homeowner reported that he doesn't keep any weapons in the crawlspace, doesn't keep them loaded in the house.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:33:58 PM
Later, homeowner called Finnegan and said he found suspected drug paraphernalia

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:35:20 PM
Finnegan said the items are a lighter and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke meth

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:36:15 PM
Twito now showing video taken by @KULR news crew at the scene

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:40:06 PM
60-second video shows some of the incident, with a police car blocking parts of it. Shots can be heard clearly

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:41:11 PM
Up now is a 7-minute video from @KTVQ of the incident

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:41:47 PM
Video shows officers bringing Brawley out with his hands behind his back

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:43:07 PM
Video shows officers search/pat down Brawley several times

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 9:45:47 PM
Finnegan said the cuffs were tight around Brawley's right wrist

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:36:48 PM
Finnegan also examined Punt's car after. Said all 9 bullets fired by Punt accounted for. "It’s believed that they all hit the patrol car.”

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:37:59 PM
Finnegan said he checked out partition window, called "the cage," in Punts car. When the spring-loaded window was tested, it wouldn't lock

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:40:20 PM
Finnegan: Only substance found in blood sample taken from Punt was caffeine. Blood draws are common procedure in such incidents

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:47:10 PM
In response to Twito question, Finnegan said he doesn't believe Punt was reckless in firing his gun.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:48:09 PM
Answering a question from the jury, Finnegan said the flex cuff on Brawley's left wrist was tightened 1 in. less than one on right

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:49:21 PM
Finnegan's testimony is over. Up next is BPD Det. Blake Richardson. Should be the last person to speak today.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 10:57:01 PM
Richardson said he came to 800 block of Miles, found it already barricaded off w/ yellow tape

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:05:27 PM
Tweets could get a little scarce here for a few minutes. My connection's been a little wonky.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:08:00 PM
Richardson now going over pics from the scene outside. Said it was his job just to work the scene. "My job is just the scene itself"

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:09:22 PM
Diagram of the scene drawn by Richardson marks 8 spent shell casings, 1 bullet, barricades and the path of Punt's patrol car

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:12:44 PM
Keep in mind, that's just my quick description of the diagram. could be one more casing somewhere in there.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:13:43 PM
A lot of Richardson's testimony is focusing on the area where Punt was struck and where the car hit the tree

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:18:55 PM
And here's a good refresher on #SD2 's pursuit of a $122 million bond: billingsgazette.com/news/state-and…

by Rob Rogers via twitter retweeted by ZachBenoit 11/5/2013 11:23:23 PM
Richardson said 9 spent shell casings recovered from the scene

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/5/2013 11:31:36 PM
....and it passed! Lots of tears and cheers here. #yesforkids http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BYW1TF8CYAAqKAm.jpg

by Casey Page via twitter retweeted by ZachBenoit 11/6/2013 3:12:15 AM
He moved to the corner to get out of line-of-sight from vent

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 4:54:50 PM
Punt said when SWAT pulled the Brawley's out, was surprised there were 2 people

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 4:56:54 PM
Punt now going over the shotgun and rifle he had in the vehicle. Both were patrol-ready

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 4:58:18 PM
The shotgun is assigned to the car and Punt had his optional patrol rifle

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 4:59:58 PM
The rifle generally gets cased and returned to the trunk, Punt said.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:01:19 PM
Punt said he then drove his patrol car back onto MIles, where Officer Keightley was speaking with Brawley

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:02:00 PM
Now speaking about Flex Cuffs, Punt said he's transported people wearing them but never applied them himself.

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:04:44 PM
Punt also said Brawley was calm: "Wasn’t moving much, wasn’t fidgeting, wasn’t talking. Just standing."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:07:28 PM
Punt on putting Brawley in the car, said the cage partition would lock. Tried several times and couldn't get it to lock properly

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:08:42 PM
Twito now showing pics of the cage partition to the jury

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:11:21 PM
Punt said he got the window 2/3 to 3/4 closed

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:14:02 PM
When asked by Twito if either of them could fit through open window, Punt said "I’ve never tried it but I would guess probably not."

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:15:52 PM
Punt said he closed/locked door and went to speak with other officers about charges

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:17:46 PM
While speaking w/ other officers, Punt looked back and saw the partition filled with tan, ran towards the car

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:19:45 PM
Punt ran up to car w/ intent of opening door, got to driver's side mirror and was thrown into the street as the car backed up

by Zach Benoit via twitter 11/6/2013 5:22:10 PM