UPPER MARLBORO, Md. -- Prince George's County prosecutors will not charge corrections officers in the death of inmate Ronnie White, the Washington Post reported.
White, 19, was found dead in his jail cell in the maximum-security section of the Prince George's Corrections Center on June 29, two days after he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for allegedly running down and killing Prince George's County police Sgt. Richard Findley in a stolen truck.
The state medical examiner ruled White's death a homicide, but corrections officers said White committed suicide. White suffered two broken bones in his neck and died of asphyxiation caused by strangulation, according to the medical examiner.
In December, a grand jury concluded its deliberation in the investigation without taking action. The grand jury did not hear enough evidence to bring down indictments in the case, sources said.
“The thing that this grand jury said was that they were not given enough evidence to determine who committed the murder,” said Henry at the time.
On Tuesday, Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said there's no new information to change that grand jury's decision not to return indictments, the Post reported. Ivey said he is not going against the medical examiner's ruling but he does not have enough evidence to file charges in connection with White's death.
Prince George's County Public Safety Director Vernon Herron and Maryland State Police are going against the medical examiner and saying it was a suicide, Herron said.
White family attorney Bobby Henry and the NAACP want the Justice Department to take over the investigation, the Post reported. The Justice Department will investigate any possible civil rights violations.
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Three corrections guards on duty the morning of White's death were questioned. Attorneys for the guards said they are not guilty of anything. The guards were not suspended from their duties during the course of this investigation.
Corrections Officer Russell Hardesty was stationed in the control booth. Officers Ramon Davis and Anthony McIntosh were assigned to patrol the ground level and another tier. Those three officers would have had the best access to see anyone entering or leaving White's cell.
Ivey didn't rule out lesser charges or administrative discipline against jail officers who may have tampered with the scene, the Post reported. One of those officers is on administrative leave.
The FBI and the Maryland State Police continued working the case after the first grand jury concluded its investigation.
