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(NSFW) Officer Convicted of Manslaughter During Failed Arrest Attempt
Published 2 years ago
Former Newport News Police Officer Albin Pearson was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2019 shooting of Henry “Hank” Berry III after an officer involved shooting occurred in Berry's living room.
35-year-old former police Sergeant Albin Pearson conducted a visit of to Berry’s Nantucket Place home in late December of 2019 to question Berry on his alleged abuse of the 911 system. They had no arrest or search warrant when they arrived to his home, and Berry was non-compliant with the officer's requests. When asked to come outside, Berry refused and attempted to close the door on the officers. This prompted the officers to charge through the door and chase Berry into a hallway in his living room.
During the ensuing battle for control of Berry, he allegedly got a hold of one of the officers tasers, prompting Pearson to shoot Berry one time in the back. In spite of Officer's attempts to provide him with life-saving-aid, Berry would die just a few minutes later.
During the trial, Commonwealth’s Attorney Rhonda Spady said Pearson had plenty of time to get a warrant before he and three other officers came to Berry’s door that night because Pearson and Officer Dwight Pitterson had been at Berry's residence just four hours before the events took place. Judge Margaret Poles Spencer ruled Wednesday that the officers’ entry into Berry’s home and their attempt to arrest him were both unlawful, and she mentioned that in her instructions to the jury.
After two and a half hours of deliberation, the jury provided the court with a guilty verdict, convicting Pearson of manslaughter and a misdemeanor trespass charge. They found him not guilty of assault & battery and three felony gun charges.
