Inclusion Daily Express -- Police Release Video Of Cruiser Running Into Wheelchair

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Police Release Video Of Cruiser Running Into Wheelchair
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 8, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA--"It's clear to me that he ran me over," a teary-eyed Gerry Mitchell said Monday, as he watched a video of the November 5 accident that landed him in the hospital.

The video was taken from a camera mounted on the dashboard of Albemarle County Police Officer Gregory C. Davis's police cruiser. It clearly shows the officer moving forward on a green light, then turning left and running into Mitchell's wheelchair, throwing the 54-year-old artist out of the chair and into the crosswalk.

It also shows that Mitchell's crosswalk signal was red instead of white.

No charges have been filed against Officer Davis.

Police Lieutenant John Teixeira said the department decided to release the video to the public in order to stop some "conspiracy talk", which he said has undermined the investigation into what happened that day.

Teixeira called it an unfortunate accident, with nobody to blame.

"I'm lucky to be alive," said Mitchell, who reportedly will be going to a nursing home for at least three weeks to recover from his injuries.

A jaywalking ticket, which was handed to Mitchell while he was in a University of Virginia Medical Center emergency room, was later dropped.

Mitchell told the Daily Progress that suing might be the right thing to do.

"I never felt that I was disabled until the accident," he added.

Related story with video clip:
"Video shows cruiser hitting wheelchair" (Daily Progress)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0108a.htm

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