Officer: Justin Ross Harris was combative with first responders
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One of the first officers to respond after an Atlanta father discovered his son, comatose, in the back of his SUV testified Tuesday Justin Ross Harris was combative with police at the scene, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Det. Jacquelyn Piper said Harris refused when she instructed him to hang up his cell phone, then told a fellow officer who repeated the demand to “shut the (expletive) up.”
Harris, 34, was indicted last September on charges including malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children. The former IT specialist pleaded not guilty and has been held without bond ever since.
Maddox Kilgore, Harris’ attorney, moved to have statements made by his client to police stricken, saying he was “held against his will, in handcuffs,” prior to his arrest and before he was read his Miranda rights. Officers had also seized his cell phone and wallet.
Cobb Police Det. Phil Stoddard, who provided the bombshell testimony at Harris’ probable cause hearing in July 2014, is now on the stand on day two of motions hearings.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
