By Victor Omondi
After breaking the blue wall of silence by reporting a white officer for his racial comments, Richmond had to endure hostility in his workplace before he eventually resigned.
It all started back in 2016 when then Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Richmond, Black, and his fellow deputy Tyler Kullman were having a chat after answering a phone call together. Moments later, Kullman, who had connected his phone to his car’s Bluetooth speaker, received a call.
“You ready to kill some ni–ers tonight, or what?” the caller asked Kullman.
Richmond was sitting in his squad car, which was just next to Kullman’s, and he overheard the conversation. The Black deputy was bothered by the racial comments he heard from the call for a long time, even though the caller, Sgt. Jeffrey Thurman, with whom he worked closely, explained that he referred to the “inner city” Blacks who “riot and loot.”
Bond denied for murder suspect in jail 3 years awaiting trial
Updated Jan 12, 2021;
Posted Jan 12, 2021
(Pre-COVID file photo) Xavier Payne sits for a pretrial hearing before Washtenaw County Trial Judge David S. Swartz Monday, March 25 2019.MLive.com
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ANN ARBOR, MI – Xavier Payne has been in jail without bond for more than three years awaiting trial for a murder he’s accused of committing when he was 16.
After a bond hearing Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 12, he will remain in jail until jury trials become possible again amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washtenaw County Trial Judge Patrick Conlin issued the ruling ordering Payne to remain in jail without bond, saying that given the nature of the case, there are no reasonable means to ensure the safety of the public if he were to be freed ahead of trial.
Murder suspect arrested at 16 seeks bond after 3 years in jail awaiting trial
Updated Jan 12, 2021;
Posted Jan 12, 2021
(Pre-COVID file photo) Xavier Payne sits for a pretrial hearing before Washtenaw County Trial Judge David S. Swartz Monday, March 25 2019.MLive.com
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That was more than three and a half years ago.
With continuing COVID-19 restrictions, it is unlikely he will have a jury trial anytime soon, leading his attorney Steven Tramontin to request at a motion hearing Monday, Jan. 11. Tramontin is requesting that either Payne’s charges be dismissed for violating his right to a speedy trial or grant him a reasonable bond.