So did law enforcement screw this up or is this guy innocent? Arizonans deserve to know. Perhaps some of our Arizona TAMs and civilians can chime in?
The man authorities have described as the Phoenix freeway shooter who terrorized the city last year received a huge victory Friday with prosecutors deciding to dismiss all charges — for now.
Jerry Cobb, spokesman for Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, said that the office filed a motion to dismiss the charges, which include carrying out a drive-by shooting, without prejudice against Leslie Merritt Jr.
“In conjunction with (the Department of Public Safety), we have identified additional forensic investigation that needs to be completed in order for the case to proceed,” Cobb said.
This action will allow them “the necessary time” to file charges again, Cobb added. He declined to comment further.
Jason Lamm, a defense attorney representing Merritt, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. On his Twitter page, Lamm said that the gag order imposed by a judge is still in place until the charges are formally dismissed.
The news comes amid questions about the evidence that the Arizona Department of Public Safety said links Merritt to the crimes.
He was released from jail Tuesday after a judge reduced his bond — once set at $1 million — to zero. He was allowed to return home under electronic monitoring.
Judge Warren Granville imposed the gag order. As a result, lawyers said they could not discuss the evidence that prompted the shift in bond. Defense attorneys have said ballistic tests cast doubt on authorities’ claims that he was behind four of the freeway shootings. The investigation into the other shootings remains open.
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All I can tell you is the shootings stopped while he was in jail.