Charles Warren Jr., lefgt, and attorney Wade Fink. (WXYZ screenshot)
Oakland County Circuit Court jurprs Wednesday found a 71-year-old Waterford man not guilty in the August 2015 death of Michigan State Police Trooper Chad Wolf.
Authorities charged that Charles Warren Jr. struck the trooper with a flatbed trailer he was pulling, then dragged the officer for miles. The motorcycle officer was fatally injured.
Warren faced charges of reckless driving causing death and failing to stop at an accident.
The jury deliberated about two hours.
Defense attorney Neil Rockind maintained that it was a tragic accident and that Warren was unaware of at the time what was happening.
The elderky driver “has deep and profound sympathy for the Wolf family," the lawyer says, according to Aileen Wingblad of The Oakland Press.
“It’s not a case of popping a bottle of champagne or acting in any way disrespectful,” Rockind said. “A man lost his life.”
Another of Warren's attorneys, Wade Fink, posts on Facebook:
Today a jury of 12 said "Not Guilty" on all 3 felony counts for a man that should never have been prosecuted. This was a horrific and tragic case and my heart aches for the family of Trooper Wolf.
I am very proud of this jury, though, for letting me walk this man out of Court today, acquitted of all charges.
