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Sadly it sounds like Arizona Government Doug Ducey was just using the false arrest of Leslie Merritt Jr. to get himself re-elected in 2016 or 2018.
On the other hand politicians typically are parasites and crooks who prey on the rest of us, so it's not that odd. But like the millions the taxpayers have shelled out to cover Sheriff Joe's crimes, the taxpayers will be paying for Arizona Governor Doug Duceys lies. Montini thinks it will cost the taxpayers $10 million. And of course Leslie Merritt Jr. deserves every penny of it. He was falsely arrested and locked in a cage for 7 months. And also demonized in the media.
Montini: Freeway shooting fiasco - 'We got him!' or We got duped? EJ Montini, The Republic | azcentral.com 6:09 a.m. MST April 25, 2016 It took five minutes after his arrest to convict freeway shooting suspect Leslie Merritt Jr. It took seven months to determine the ballistic evidence against him was questionable and release him. It could take $10 million to settle Merritt’s eventual lawsuit. And, worse of all, the number of suspects now in custody is...zero. All because the public was jumpy; investigators were under pressure, and the Gov. Doug Ducey couldn’t resist the urge to grandstand. And none of it had to happen. Merritt was arrested last Sept. 18 in connection with four of the 11 incidents in which cars on the freeways in Phoenix were struck by projectiles. Days before that DPS Director Frank Milstead said he believed there was more than one shooter. He told The Republic, "It does not appear to be the same guy. I think we have three MOs. We have one that looks like road rage. We have the bullet ones. We have the projectile ones." DPS said that eight vehicles were struck by bullets and three were struck by unspecified projectiles. So why, minutes after Merritt’s arrest, would Ducey rush to judgement? He posted on Twitter: "BREAKING: We got him! DPS SWAT team is in custody of the individual suspected of I-10 shootings. Apprehended moments ago." Obviously, the governor wanted to allay fears. But he also wanted to play the big shot. And it appears to have backfired. And why the bluster? He could have taken a comforting but more cautious tone. After all, DPS said they’d connected Merritt to four incidents. That left seven others. And the DPS director didn’t believe it was all the work of one individual. Milstead called the incidents acts of "domestic terrorism," and Silent Witness offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment in the cases. There were flashing signs with a tip line on the freeways. Even after Merritt’s arrest Milstead hedged his bets, saying, "The weapon and man we believe was responsible for starting this spree is in custody," but adding, “Are there others out there? Are there copycats? That is possible.” If so, they’re still out there. When Merritt was released from jail after spending seven months in custody he said, "I told you guys (in the media) when I first got arrested I didn't do it. I'm telling you now that I'm going home, I didn't do it." Adding, "Right now I just want to go home and be with my kids." Merritt is asking for $2.5 million apiece from the state of Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey, Maricopa County and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery for what his attorneys say was a rush to judgment in response to "intense political and financial pressure." It will tough to argue against that unless charges against Merritt are refiled, which is something prosecutors can do. They say the investigation is continuing For now, however, look where Ducey’s “We got him!” has gotten us. Merritt got jailed. Mistakes got exposed. More articles about how Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery is framing Leslie Allen Merritt Jr.
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