Officers involved in BREONNA TAYLOR's death get 'dangerous weapon' charges dismissed

Saturday, August 24, 2024 - A federal judge has dismissed felony charges against two officers involved in obtaining the warrant that led to the fatal raid on Breonna Taylor's home, sparking renewed controversy and anguish for Taylor's family. The ruling shifts the blame for Taylor's death from the warrant to her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.

In 2022, Detective Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany was charged with submitting a false affidavit to secure the search warrant for Taylor's home and allegedly fabricating a cover story to evade responsibility after Taylor was k!lled during the raid. They also faced felony charges for using a dangerous weapon to deprive Taylor of her Fourth Amendment rights.

However, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that there was no direct connection between the warrant and Taylor's death, asserting that the immediate cause was Walker's decision to fire at officers, prompting them to respond with lethal force. The judge's decision to drop the weapons charges is a significant legal victory for the officers, who faced potential life sentences if convicted.

Notably, neither Jaynes nor Meany were present during the raid itself. Despite the dismissal of these charges, the two officers still face legal challenges. Meany is charged with making a false statement to federal investigators, while Jaynes is charged with two counts of falsification of records, conspiracy to falsify records and witness tampering. If convicted, Jaynes could face up to 40 years in prison, while Meany could be sentenced to up to 5 years. Both officers have been fired from the Louisville Police Department.

Breonna Taylor's death in 2020 sparked nationwide protests and became a rallying point for the Black Lives Matter movement. The decision to dismiss the charges has devastated Taylor's family, who expressed their disappointment in a statement, while also noting that prosecutors plan to appeal the judge's ruling.

Two other former detectives, Brett Hankison and Kelly Goodlett, were also charged in connection with the case. Goodlett has reportedly pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.