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Former LMPD officer who fired pepper balls night David McAtee died avoids prison time
Updated: 6:15 PM EST Jan 30, 2023
2019. A FORMER LOUISVILLE POLICE OFFICER WON’T SERVE ANY PRISON TIME FOR USING EXCESSIVE FORCE. KATIE KRUSE WAS SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT FOR FIRING PEPPER BALLS AT THE NIECE OF DAVID MCCARTY. IT SET OFF A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT ULTIMATELY ENDED WITH HIS DEATH. WLKY IS ALEXIS MATTHEWS WAS IN THE COURTROOM TODAY FOR CRUZ’S SENTENCING. ALEXIS, WHILE RICK, THE US DISTRICT JUDGE, MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT KATIE CRUZ RECEIVING TWO YEARS OF PROBATION CAN BE SEEN AS LENIENT, JUDGE BENJAMIN BEATON SAID HER CHOICE TO FIRE PEPPER BALLS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE RACIAL UNREST HERE IN LOUISVILLE WAS DANGEROUS AND IN THIS CASE, DEADLY. KATIE CRUZ WALKED OUT OF THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE MONDAY AFTERNOON AFTER LEARNING HER FATE ON CHARGES CONNECTED TO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF DAVID MCCARTY. THE FIRED LAPD OFFICER WILL SERVE TWO YEARS PROBATION, COMPLETE 200 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND WAS ORDERED TO PAY A $5,000 FINE. FINE. CRUZ PLEADED GUILTY TO DEPRIVATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW FOR FIRING PEPPER BALLS AS AUTHORITIES DISPERSED A CROWD AT 26TH AND BROADWAY. THE CROWD WAS SAID TO BE VIOLATING A CITYWIDE CURFEW TO IMPOSE DURING SUMMER PROTESTS FOR BREONNA TAYLOR’S NIECE, WHO WAS STANDING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT THE TIME. MCKENZIE THEN FIRED TWO SHOTS INTO THE AIR IN THE DOORWAY OF HIS RESTAURANT AND A KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARDSMEN RETURNED FIRE, KILLING MCKENZIE. WHILE CRUZ’S ATTORNEY AND PROSECUTORS ARGUED SHE DID NOT INTEND TO CAUSE BODILY HARM AND EVEN BLAMED LMPD FOR TRAINING, CRUZ TO USE UNREASONABLE FORCE WHEN DEPLOYING THE PEPPER BALLS. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE BENJAMIN BEATON SAYS THEY SHOULD NOT MINIMIZE WHAT CRUZ ACTIONS LED TO AND HOW MANY FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED BY IT. THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN THE JUDGE’S DECISION TO REJECT CRUZ’S RECOMMENDED ONE YEAR PROBATION AND INCREASE IT TO TWO YEARS. PROSECUTORS ALSO REVEALED DURING MONDAY SENTENCING HEARING THAT THE MCKENZIE FAMILY AGREE WITH THE PUNISHMENT, SAYING CRUZ ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER ACTIONS. AND AS PART OF CRUZ’S PLEA AGREEMENT, SHE MUST SURRENDER ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT LICENSES AND CANNOT WORK AGAIN. AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND WHEN THE JUDGE ASKED IF SHE WANTED TO MAKE A FINAL STATEMENT IN COURT TODAY, CRUZ DECLINED. WHY ARE YOU IN STUDIO TONIGHT?
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Former LMPD officer who fired pepper balls night David McAtee died avoids prison time
Updated: 6:15 PM EST Jan 30, 2023
A former Louisville Metro Police officer was sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to federal charges in connection to the night David McAtee died.Katie Crews won’t serve any prison time. She was sentenced to two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine for her connection to McAtee’s death.In May 2020, LMPD and the National Guard were breaking up a group violating a citywide curfew at 26th Street and Broadway following the death of Breonna Taylor.Crews shot pepper balls that hit McAtee’s niece. McAtee then pulled out a gun and opened fire from his restaurant.McAtee was ultimately killed by a National Guard soldier who returned fire. Crews pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under the color of law, which is a misdemeanor. Previous stories: Ex-LMPD officer involved in David McAtee’s death faces federal chargeFormer LMPD officer pleads guilty in connection to death of David McAteeFormer LMPD officer may not serve any prison time for role in death of David McAtee
A former Louisville Metro Police officer was sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to federal charges in connection to the night David McAtee died.
Katie Crews won’t serve any prison time. She was sentenced to two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine for her connection to McAtee’s death.
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In May 2020, LMPD and the National Guard were breaking up a group violating a citywide curfew at 26th Street and Broadway following the death of Breonna Taylor.
Crews shot pepper balls that hit McAtee’s niece. McAtee then pulled out a gun and opened fire from his restaurant.
McAtee was ultimately killed by a National Guard soldier who returned fire.
Crews pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under the color of law, which is a misdemeanor.
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