In Jones’ death, more evidence of a crime

The sad irony in the death of Corey Jones is that if former Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja had followed practices designed to protect him, Jones would be alive and Raja would not be facing prison time.

Documents released last week by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office reinforce this point. Prosecutors have charged Raja with manslaughter and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jones 15 months ago, and the evidence continues to show Raja was criminally negligent.

Prosecutors asked consultant W.D. Libby to review Raja’s actions in the early morning of Oct. 15, 2015. Libby spent 38 years in law enforcement, 16 of them as a police chief. He has a law degree, and his experience includes overseeing professional standards.

Based on Libby’s report, Raja did everything wrong when — working plainclothes on burglary surveillance — he saw Jones’ broken-down SUV in the southbound exit ramp of Interstate 95. Raja parked in front of Jones, leaving his vehicle “in such a position that it did not protect him or Corey Jones.” Raja should have parked behind. Better yet, Libby said, he should have called for backup.

Raja also failed to follow proper practices when approaching Jones. Libby cited the International Association of Chiefs of Police recommendation that plainclothes officers “present proper identification. If requested, let the driver examine your credentials so that they are satisfied that you are a law enforcement officer.”

Libby concluded that Raja violated a supervisor’s order by not wearing a tactical vest, which would have identified him as a police officer. Raja “did not verbally announce who he was, why he was there, or indicate police authority, violating accepted police practice.”

Raja’s bigger problem, though, is that he lied. More than once.

Raja told investigators several times that he identified himself to Jones as a police officer. Since Raja wasn’t wearing a body camera, he likely assumed there was no evidence to contradict his version.

In fact, there is an audiotape of Jones talking on his cellphone, asking for a tow truck. Mark Anderson, an investigator for the state attorney’s office, writes in his report that Raja “was not telling the truth” about how he approached Jones.

“The audio recording from the roadside assistance call clearly captures Corey Jones say the words, ‘I’m good.’ He said it twice. Raja’s response, both times, was not what he swore it was: ‘Hey, man, police, can I help you?’ His response, both times, was just one word: Really?’ This reply was sarcastic and confrontational. It was obviously not a sincere offer of help. More importantly, the recording reveals Raja never identified himself to be a police officer.”

In addition, Anderson stated, Raja lied in other ways. Before he began shooting, Raja said, he screamed at Jones to drop his gun. On the audiotape, however, Raja only shouts, “Get your f-----hands up!” Raja told investigators that he called 911 before firing the second volley. In fact, the audiotape shows that Raja called 911 only after he had fired all six shots.

“By that time,” Anderson wrote, “Corey Jones’ body was down and he was dead or within moments of dying from the massive internal trauma caused by the bullet wound to his chest.” As for the gun, there was no bullet in the chamber and the safety was on. Jones threw it away as he ran from Raja.

That last point explains State Attorney Dave Aronberg’s decision to add the attempted murder charge. Anderson found “sufficient evidence and probable cause to conclude Nouman Raja continued to discharge his firearm at Corey Jones after he realized Jones no longer possessed a firearm. The intent of discharging his firearm was to kill Corey Jones.”

In a recent Pew Research Center survey of nearly 8,000 police officers nationwide, 86 percent of the respondents said highprofile cases involving officers and African-Americans — like Jones — have made their jobs harder. Seventy-five percent said encounters between officers and African-Americans are tenser.

We empathize with the frustrations of good police officers. We are frustrated that mistrust of police can be highest in neighborhoods that most need effective policing.

That mistrust, however, will run even higher if the system appears to excuse criminally negligent behavior by police officers. From what is now known, Nouman Raja needlessly provoked a fatal confrontation with Corey Jones and then tried to cover up his actions. If that doesn’t amount to a crime, what does?

Nouman Raja told investigators several times that he identified himself to Corey Jones as a police officer. Since Raja wasn’t wearing a body camera, he likely assumed there was no evidence to contradict his version.