Ex-Virginia Cop Charged With Murder Collapses In Court After He's Denied Bail

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — A former police officer charged with murder for shooting and killing a man during a domestic disturbance call collapsed Wednesday in a northern Virginia courtroom after being denied bail in his initial court appearance.

Adam Torres, 32, of Culpeper, fainted toward the end of a 20-minute hearing as lawyers discussed a possible December trial date. After standing for several minutes, Torres collapsed, hitting a chair before landing flat on his back. One bailiff cleared the courtroom and another checked Torres' vital signs as Torres lay on the floor with eyes closed.

The sheriff's office declined to comment on Torres' condition, but there was no obvious sign of serious injury or health problems. A sheriff's deputy was overheard telling Torres' mother that he was alert several minutes after he fainted, and Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh said he believed Torres was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Torres killed John Geer, 46, of Springfield, in August 2013 after a report of a domestic dispute. Witnesses, including other officers, said Geer was unarmed and had his hands up when he was shot. Torres told investigators he thought Geer might have a weapon hidden in his waist, and that he was concerned Geer might reach for a gun that he had previously set down at his feet.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/adam-torres-fairfax-police-charged

[Angry Dragon]

1. the most important word in the last paraghaph : MIGHT used two times

[MADem]

2. Solitary confinement/Protective custody is a rough stretch. No wonder he fainted.

He doesn't look like a fun guy:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/adam-torres-fairfax-police-charged

Morrogh, though, said other officers at the scene maintain that Geer kept his hands up during the encounter, and at most lowered his hands from above his head to level with his ears.

"He shot a man with his hands up, and I think that makes him dangerous," Morrogh said.

He also said Torres "appeared to be in a deteriorating mental state" in the days and weeks before the shooting. Morrogh said he was occasionally sent home from work, and was consumed by thoughts that his wife had been cheating on him.

Judge Stephen Shannon ordered Torres held pending trial. Shannon explained to Torres, dressed in a green jail jumpsuit, that Virginia law presumes bail will be denied on murder charges. Torres nodded silently. A few minutes later, he collapsed.

Torres' prosecution marks the first time that a Fairfax County police officer has faced criminal charges for an on-duty shooting.

[tblue37]

7. Actually, this guy's arrest might have saved his wife's life, since he strikes me as the kind of

guy who is not only suspicious and jealous of his wife/girlfriend, but also willing to get violent over those suspicions.

[MADem]

9. That's probably very true.

The wife needs to dissolve that marriage toute suite, for her own safety, I think.

[FSogol]

13. The other 4 cops at the shooting did not collaborate his story.

That was surprising to me. He must have been quite a loose canon previously.

[MADem]

14. When his peers won't cover for him, he must be a real problem child. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. "When the police are considered above the law, citizens end up 6 feet under"

[libdem4life]

4. Wow, no wonder he fainted. Hard lesson...hope the rest of their force get the message...

all over the country, preferably.

[left-of-center2012]

5. no obvious sign of serious injury or health problems

Last edited Wed Aug 19, 2015, 07:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Didn't work. Still got locked up.

[MADem]

10. That is not entirely uncommon for people to react by fainting when they get catastrophic news.

I've actually seen it happen at least once that I remember clearly.

Police in prison; no fun for him.

[frylock]

6. oh, the poor thing.

[secondvariety]

8. To quote

Val Kilmer in "Tombstone"..."I'm afraid the strain was more than he could bear".

[valerief]

11. Oh, deah, thay-yat pooah killah had the vapohs. I do declayah, what in lay-yand's

sake is the world comin' to?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

12. Poor thing. He can practice standing up in his cell.

After several years, he will probably get the hang of it.