The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Jury to begin deliberating in SWAT shooting
A Lorain County Common Pleas Court jury now will decide the fate of the Sheffield Lake man accused of shooting a police officer in his front yard. Closing arguments took about two hours March 6 in the case of Martin L. Robinson, 40, who is facing a count of attempted aggravated murder, six counts of attempted murder, 12 counts of felonious assault and a single count of inducing panic in connection to a May 31 incident at his Oliver Street home. The inducing panic charge was dropped to a misdemeanor while a separate charge of tampering with evidence was dismissed by Common Pleas Judge D. Chris Cook. Robinson is accused of shooting Amherst police Officer Eugene (JR) Ptacek, who was working the scene in his capacity as a doorbreacher for the county SWAT team. In her closing argument, Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Laura Dezort said the whole case comes down to choices and the consequences that come from those choices. It was Robinson’s decision to not go to court in Cuyahoga County for weapons charges that led to having a warrant issued for his arrest, Dezort said. It also was his choice not to turn himself in when he knew he had two warrants that led to the Lorain County SWAT Team to attempt to serve the documents at his home, she said. Dezort spoke about the unsuccessful attempts the officers and Robinson’s girlfriend made to contact him. She called any suggestion the SWAT team wasn’t warranted in this case ridiculous as Robinson was known to carry weapons and to dislike police. At one point, Robinson interrupted Dezort claiming he could shoot at people from his own house, but he was quickly admonished by Cook. Defense attorney Reid J. Yoder began his closing argument by softly singing Buffalo Springfield’s 1967 song “For What It’s Worth,” which he said deals with the government overstepping its powers and oppressing people. Yoder said the same issues that song was written about are in play with this case. He characterized the SWAT team as a “paramilitary” contingent. The prosecution had overstepped and was trying to convict Robinson of attempting to murder officers who were not in harm’s way, Yoder said. The more than 30 witnesses the prosecution put on the stand were biased, he said. And the SWAT team had top of the line equipment and could get “whatever they want,” but did not have body cameras, Yoder said. “What are they trying to hide?” he asked. In his rebuttal closing argument, Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Tony Cillo said Robinson hates cops and had a grudge against them. The non-answers Robinson gave March 5 during his testimony and his conduct on the stand was just an act, Cillo said. Robinson hunted Ptacek, who was shot with a 20-gauge shotgun in the backside, during the incident. “He is the hunter and Ptacek is the prey,” Cillo said. “To him, it’s a game of cat and mouse the same way he was testifying with me. “All it was was a game of cat and mouse. ‘I’m not going to answer your questions. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.’ “Well, I know: Martin Robinson shot.” The jury will begin deliberating the case at 9 a.m. March 6.