cops above the law

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Family Upset Officer Still Not Charged In Fatal Crash
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Posted: 5:57 pm EDT April 7, 2009
Updated: 6:34 pm EDT April 7, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A driver suspected of street racing and causing a crash that killed three was charged with murder within hours after the accident, but there is still no decision about possible charges against a police officer who was involved in a fatal crash more than a week ago.

Nafisa Morrison, wearing at shirt bearing a picture of her cousin, said Tuesday she wonders why the 20-year-old’s death in a crash with a speeding Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer has so far resulted in no criminal charges.

“We've been waiting to hear something from (the police) about what's going on. They didn't call and tell us nothing,” she said.

The family said it's frustrated because police admitted after the crash that Officer Martray Proctor was driving 90 mph with his siren off when his patrol car collided with Shatona Robinson's car on Old Statesville Road in north Charlotte. Robinson was killed, and Wyatt Morrison was one of three others injured.

“I broke my finger. I got to get surgery on it tomorrow,” he said.

Morrison is among family members asking if police are giving special consideration to one of their own.

“They charge anybody else with a crime. Why shouldn't they charge him?” he asked.

Robinson's family points to Saturday's triple fatality in southwest Charlotte that witnesses said involved street racing on York Road. Within 24 hours of that crash, police issued warrants to charge driver Tyler Stasko with murder.

Eyewitness News took the family's concerns to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Harold Medlock, who is overseeing both investigations.

“The facts and the crash involving Officer Proctor stand alone. We don't say we're going to do something in (that) crash because we did something in this crash,” he said.

The decision about what, if any, charges will be filed against Proctor will be made by the district attorney's office. Marsha Goodenow, the chief homicide prosecutor, will make that call -- but right now she can't because so far she's gotten no information from police investigators.

On Tuesday, police said two crash reconstructionists are working full time on the investigation as Robinson's family waits for answers.

“That's my baby sister, and that's all I had. And I can't say no more,” said Terrence Robinson, the victim’s sister.

Medlock said he understands the frustration of the family, but he insisted that police aren't doing anything out of the ordinary because an officer is involved. He said he expects to take the case to the district attorney’s office next week for a decision about possible charges.

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