Lima Officer Wants Tarika Wilson Shooting Death Trial Moved

May 29--LIMA, Ohio -- Attorneys for a Lima police sergeant charged in the shooting death of a Lima woman during a drug raid want his trial moved out of town.  In a motion filed Tuesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court, attorneys for Sgt. Joseph Chavalia asked that his upcoming jury trial be moved out of town because of extensive media coverage of the fatal shooting and subsequent indictment of Sergeant Chavalia. "This county has been so saturated with the facts underlying this case that it is impossible for defendant to receive a fair trial before a jury composed of impartial persons who learn of the case only through the evidence properly admitted during trial," attorney William Kluge wrote in the motion. Following a two-month investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation into the death of Tarika Wilson, 26, and wounding of her 1-year-old son, Sincere, Sergeant Chavalia was indicted by an Allen County grand jury on misdemeanor charges of negligent homicide and negligent assault. He has been on paid leave from the police department since the Jan. 4 shooting. Mr. Kluge said yesterday that the change of venue is needed because of the media coverage and because of "the feelings in the community and all the issues pertinent to that."

The shooting raised tensions in the African-American community, prompting the Rev. Jesse Jackson to come to Lima in February to meet with city and county leaders. Mr. Jackson declared the shooting of the biracial woman by a white police officer a case of "a botched raid."

"This was unnecessary force, excessive, and illegal," the civil rights leader said.

Defiance County Prosecutor Jeff Strausbaugh, who was appointed special prosecutor in the case, said he did not believe the trial needed to be moved out of Allen County.

"I believe that in most situations, you have the ability to question prospective jurors, and based on their answers, you're able to seat a jury," he said. "I believe in this case we'll be able to at least attempt that in a viable fashion."

Sergeant Chavalia is to be in court for a final pretrial hearing July 25 with the trial to begin July 28. Richard Knepper, a former Lucas County Common Pleas and Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals judge, was appointed to preside over the case.