Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Ohio Man Murdered Deputy Day After Police Shot His Son: Police

Starting point is 00:00:00 Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this law and crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Chaos at court as a man accused of killing a sheriff's deputy a day after his son was shot by a police officer, asked to be released on bail. I lay out the horrific chain of events out of Ohio and where the case could be heading. Are you familiar with the acts of someone that is not in their right mind when they commit a criminal act? I'm Anjanette Levy and this is Crime Fix. Before I get into this case out of Ohio, I want to talk a little bit about true crime news and

Starting point is 00:00:48 law and crime merch. The Law and Crime Docket is your one-stop shop for trending stories, thrilling body cams, and an exclusive look at brand new shows and podcasts from the faces you love. Sign up for our Docket newsletter by scanning the QR code you see here or click on the link in our description and pinned in the comments under this video. At the beginning of June, we'll pick 10 new Docket subscribers and we'll send a law and crime hat to them. Winners will be announced in the newsletter. Now to the case out of Ohio where Larry Henderson had retired as a Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy last December. He was still working though occasionally for that sheriff's office in Cincinnati doing special details. Last Friday, he was doing that, directing

Starting point is 00:01:30 traffic for graduation at the University of Cincinnati when police say a man named Rodney Hinton Jr. deliberately drove his vehicle into Henderson at this intersection. Deputy Henderson was rushed to the local trauma center, but there was nothing that could be done to save him. Within hours, he passed away from these devastating injuries. You're probably asking yourself, why would anybody deliberately drive a vehicle into somebody, much less a sheriff's deputy who was directing traffic at a college graduation? Well, police say Rodney Hinton Jr. did this on purpose,

Starting point is 00:02:04 possibly to avenge the death of his son, Ryan Hinton. Ryan Hinton was 18 years old and a day earlier, a Cincinnati police officer shot and killed him after encountering him and some others in a car that had been reported stolen out of Kentucky. Here's the police chief. Officers across the country confront dangerous situations every day, sometimes more than once a day. They are often compelled to make split-second decisions to protect others and themselves when faced with immediate threats. Yesterday was one of those occurrences. Let me be very direct. We cannot allow individuals to flee from officers with a loaded firearm aimed at them. When this happens, the outcome is almost always tragic.

Starting point is 00:02:58 No one wins and everyone involved is affected. Police Chief Teresa Fiji outlined what occurred. It's something the Cincinnati Police Department does within 24 hours of an officer-involved shooting taking place. Where the incident occurred is at the dead end of the parking lot back here. You'll see vehicles there now. You'll see a photo of the stolen car that we're going to talk about was backed into a parking spot back there. As you can see, this is a stolen Kia. It was stolen out of Northern Kentucky yesterday.

Starting point is 00:03:48 You can see we have two uniformed cars there. Prior to those uniformed cars arriving, we had two undercover cars that pulled into that dead end, saw the vehicle. They backed out. They saw that there were individuals inside the vehicle, so they backed out and let the uniformed cars make the approach, which is the tactically sound decision to do. The cars are positioned the way the officers are trained. We are trained to use our vehicles as cover from any threat. That's what those officers did with the cars at that time. Chief Fiji then played a short portion of the body camera footage. This is body worn camera from officer number two.

Starting point is 00:04:21 Go ahead, Bobby. He's got a gun. He's got a gun on your right! On your right! This is the body camera footage from the officer who actually shot Ryan Hinton. This is the other officer, the one who fires the shot. This is his body camera was recovered at the scene after the individual was shot. This is what he had in his hand while the officers were chasing him. It's just a photo of it here at Criminalistics. Remember I told you he fell on the concrete and the officer said that they heard the metal

Starting point is 00:05:07 hit the ground? There are three spots on here where this gun has scratches on it. We believe those occurred when he hit the ground with the firearm. This is a second... Sorry, Bobby, can you go back one frame, please? This magazine was in the firearm. That's an extended magazine so it holds more rounds. Go ahead. This is a second magazine that was located in

Starting point is 00:05:31 his sweatshirt pocket, his jacket pocket. And that is the magazine from that second magazine. This is another firearm that was located inside the stolen vehicle. This is a firearm that was located inside the stolen vehicle. This is a firearm that was also stolen out of northern Kentucky sometime yesterday, early yesterday morning. Approximately, we believe, based on timelines, this was stolen from a vehicle in northern Kentucky, and then they went on to steal the vehicle that's involved in the incident. I want to tell you about a free app that I've tried. It's called Upside.

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Starting point is 00:07:09 body cam video of what happened with the police involved shooting with Ryan. We stayed at the chief's office for about an hour and a half and what we saw was disturbing. The family was upset, as you can imagine, watching your son, watching your grandson, watching your loved one getting shot and killed by the police was upsetting to this family. We left out of the police chief's office and a few hours later I was made aware that Rodney had an incident with a police represent the estate and the police involved shooting. Rodney Hinton left the meeting with the police chief and sometime after that is when police say he intentionally drove his vehicle into Deputy Larry Henderson. A probable cause affidavit states a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputy was standing on the sidewalk at the corner of the intersection outside of the lanes of travel where he was engaged in traffic control. The deputy was wearing a uniform and a fluorescent traffic vest. Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, the defendant drove across

Starting point is 00:08:40 oncoming lanes of traffic through the intersection and directly at the deputy, who was struck by the vehicle causing injuries to the deputy. That intersection near the University of Cincinnati's campus has flowers and blue ribbons decorated in memory and in honor of Larry Henderson, a man who was simply working a detail directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati's graduation. He worked at a different agency, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, than the police officer who shot Ryan Hinton. Larry Henderson had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to Ryan Hinton. On Monday, Ryan Hinton's family stood with their lawyers, distancing themselves from what Ryan's father

Starting point is 00:09:20 is accused of doing, intentionally murdering Deputy Henderson. We're here because we represent the estate of Ryan. We're not here to talk about the incident that occurred with the police officer. We do offer our condolences to the officer and his family. But we were hired to represent this family to investigate the police involved shooting of their son, Ryan. This family is very upset about what occurred. We believe that this incident should be investigated. It's not as cut and dry as this officer should have just pulled out his gun and shot at Ryan. It's not that cut and dry. So that's why we're doing the records request. We're going to analyze frame by frame each one of these videos to determine why the officer made that deadly decision to shoot and kill Ryan. Ryan Hinton's grandfather, the father of Rondi Hinton, also spoke.

Starting point is 00:10:28 I'm going to give the condolences out to the officers that got hurt and got killed, my whole family. I'm asking for forgiveness, and I've been praying hard for the officer that killed my grandson. I've been praying hard for him and his family because I know he's hurting off this. If I seen in the video about my grandson, I've seen two scared people. I've seen the officer scared and I've seen my grandson scared. So it's an unfortunate incident that happened. So that's all I've seen.

Starting point is 00:11:02 It was like I didn't see the police there trying to kill, kill, kill. No. What I've seen was two persons made a mistake. My grandson made a mistake being an officer. He was trying to get back to his family too. So that's what I've seen. So it's not about revenge or anything. I have nothing against

Starting point is 00:11:20 nobody. You know, my Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ and I represent him. So with that said, please, everybody, just try to forgive everybody who done anything to anybody. Rodney Hinton Jr. appeared in court over the weekend following his arrest on an aggravated murder charge. A wall of Larry Henderson's colleagues surrounded him. Hinton muttered something about being gone forever. Hinton was moved to a jail in a neighboring county. He was back in court asking for bail, and things got heated in the gallery when his brother attempted to contact him by knocking on the courtroom glass. Have a seat. Have a seat. Have a seat, sir. Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!

Starting point is 00:12:25 Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!

Starting point is 00:12:44 Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Rodney Hinton was rushed out of the courtroom as his brother was escorted out of the gallery. Shortly thereafter, court resumed with Hinton's lawyer asking for bail for him and entering a not guilty plea on his behalf. Judge, I'm going to waive probable cause as a result of being acquainted with the case. I'm waiving probable cause. Thank you so much. And is there a plea this morning? There's a plea of not guilty. Plea of not guilty. Will you enter a plea of not guilty? And thank you. And as to Bond, the state has requested a hearing on the issue of Bond or bail. You may be aware of that?

Starting point is 00:13:58 I am aware of that. Who would like to proceed? I would proceed, Your Honor. Thank you. Meanwhile, a detective testified about what happened that day. Tell me what he did after he stopped. So based on witness statements, as well as the video, the vehicle accelerated quickly, proceeded eastbound, crossed into the oncoming lanes of traffic when there was no longer traffic to obstruct his travel, crossed into the oncoming

Starting point is 00:14:37 lanes of traffic, went to the left of those little stanchions that are in the middle of the roadwayway into the oncoming lanes through the intersection directly at where deputy henderson was standing struck deputy henderson and the metal utility pole on the north east corner of the intersection okay were there any evidence of skid marks no there were no indications at any point that he tried to brake, stop, or otherwise avoid Deputy Henderson. And is that the conclusion that our accident reconstructions have come to at this point? At this time, yes. Okay. And does it appear from your review of the video that he headed straight for Deputy Henderson?

Starting point is 00:15:22 Yes. that he headed straight for deputy henderson yes and did any of the multiple witnesses that you spoke to and the people that were in the vehicles that were surrounding him the people that were on scene did anyone indicate that any attempt to slow down or deviate his path uh straight to deputy henderson no everybody said that he accelerated was traveling at a high rate of speed all the way up until the time that he struck Deputy Henderson. Okay, and when he struck Deputy Henderson, when he struck Deputy Henderson, was the deputy injured? Yes.

Starting point is 00:15:55 Okay, and what happened after he struck Deputy Henderson? Deputy Henderson was launched several feet through the air. He came to rest in a turn lane several feet from where the collision occurred. Rodney Hinton's defense attorney then questioned the detective. Just first of all, I would like to offer on behalf of the Hinton family and myself. Prayers to the Hinton family, prayers to the family of Larry Henderson, the fallen deputy, and I thank the court for having a fair assembly

Starting point is 00:16:33 in the courtroom today. With that, I'd like to ask you a few questions, not a lot, okay? Yes, sir. You said that Mr. Hinton left the police station around 1230. CIS? He initially left around 1030. Came back and then left again?

Starting point is 00:16:52 And then returned a couple hours later, yes. And you said that individuals that know Mr. Hinton, his family members, were saying that he appeared to be agitated upset and so forth correct yes okay and you don't know the source of that that agitation or that the strongness do you if you know you might not I don't think you do but you have to answer the question the source of the agitation yes well I would assume it was because of the, I believe it was because of the video and the reason that he was at CIS. Do you know the mental history of Mr. Hinton? No, I do not know detailed mental history. Do you know whether or not he's had any documented, medically documented infirmities or conditions? Do you know that?

Starting point is 00:17:43 You don't, do you? No, I do not. After Bond was denied, the sheriff gave a brief statement. He was a 33-year career deputy for our department. He retired approximately five months ago, and he continued to serve under oath. And he was directing traffic that day at what would have been a very, very joyous occasion for the University of Cincinnati graduates. Unfortunately, you know what unfolded, and we have lost Larry. Larry has been a deputy who has been so extraordinary. We've retired his badge number.

Starting point is 00:18:25 Badge number 129 will be retired. Larry touched so many lives in this organization because he was a trainer, because he worked in so many specialized units. And Larry was very animate about the fact that he stay on the front line. He did not wish to take exams to be promoted because Larry's service was on that front line. And I have to tell you, that is bravery extraordinaire. When deputies decide that they want to be out there facing every day to day, that's a sacrifice. And it's a sacrifice for his family and they have made the ultimate sacrifice i want to bring in ken cober he is the president of the fraternal order of police

Starting point is 00:19:13 in cincinnati ohio so ken um this is a shocking turn of events we have a young man um who was the in an officer-involved shooting he was was killed by a Cincinnati police officer on a Thursday. And then the next day, police say that his father, it sounds like intentionally, mows down a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy who's directing traffic at a college graduation. So it's a pretty shocking turn of events. It's been a terrible, terrible Thursday.

Starting point is 00:19:46 It was a tragedy that an officer had to defend his own life. And then on Friday to have a sheriff's deputy murdered simply directing traffic for a graduation is just it's unthinkable. I know you put out a pretty strong statement after Larry Henderson passed away from being hit by this vehicle. And you were calling for the prosecutor to pursue the death penalty in this case. So it sounds like you believe that this was no accident. You believe that this was intentional. Tell me what you know about this that leads you to believe that. Absolutely. Our traffic unit and our homicide unit work together.

Starting point is 00:20:27 And through the course of their investigation, they determined that this absolutely was an intentional act. And yes, I am absolutely standing with, I think, every other law enforcement officer in this county that expects the prosecutor to pursue the death penalty in this case? The lawyer for Ryan Hinton's estate, for the son, said that the father, Rodney Hinton, had been in a meeting with Cincinnati police. And for people who maybe aren't aware of this, there's a longstanding collaborative agreement in the city of Cincinnati where, you know, there was a history many, many moons ago, years ago of some police shootings. Police-involved shootings involving young African-American men. The federal government came in. There's this agreement where now Cincinnati police, within 24 hours, if there's an officer-involved shooting, they say, this is what we know. They try to be very open with the public and present what they can about

Starting point is 00:21:23 the investigation. And before that happened, apparently, they were having a meeting with the family of Ryan Hinton and showing them this body camera footage of what happened. And the family of Ryan Hinton or the lawyers for Ryan Hinton said the father left that meeting very angry. And apparently after this meeting is when Mr. Henderson, the deputy Larry Henderson, was run down by Rodney Hinton. So do you know anything more about what may have happened in that meeting or any of the details about that? You know, the police department does a fantastic job being transparent and getting this information out as soon as they can when a critical incident occurs. And that also includes meeting with the family. You know, to the chief, it goes over with them, you know, if there's body camera footage of what occurred,

Starting point is 00:22:14 how things occurred. And while I understand that, you know, the father was upset, there's absolutely no excuse to go and murder a police officer who had nothing to do with this to murder anybody. Like I said, I understand emotions were running high. My understanding that there was some kind of confrontation that occurred there. I wasn't there for it. And then apparently at some point he stormed off. And then, of course, that led to just more tragic events. What can you tell us about the investigation?

Starting point is 00:22:41 What has been revealed through that traffic investigation? You said the traffic unit. What's come of that? I mean, were there some statements made by Rodney Hinton? Did he say something about, you know, I did this on purpose or, you know, an eye for an eye? I mean, what happened? I'm not going to get into too much of the investigation and what, you know, they have, evidence they have. But I could take all the evidence pointed towards this absolutely was an intentional act. And then that was, in my opinion, only, you know, further proven when his arraignment Saturday morning showing absolutely zero remorse, whatever, for what happened. Tell me, Ken, if you would, how much of an impact, how difficult has this been for the law enforcement community there in Cincinnati, Ohio, having a deputy? I mean,

Starting point is 00:23:39 this was a retired deputy working at traffic detail at a college graduation who's just and he retired in December is my understanding. So this is an off-duty detail that he's working and he's just working the traffic, you know, thing and he's run down. I mean, what has this been like for the police officers there in the Cincinnati area? Quite honestly, it's just, it's terrible. You know, it's infuriating. It's sad, you know, that a deputy who's there directing traffic, you know, running a light for an occasion, which should be a fantastic occasion. You've got a bunch of University of Cincinnati students that are graduating, should be a

Starting point is 00:24:22 time to celebrate. Instead, it's nothing but a time of tragedy. You know, from the first officer that responded, that had to try to administer CPR to the deputies that all are on scene, to our traffic unit or homicide unit, everybody that's been involved with this. It's just an absolute, just seeing the evil that society has is something that has been very hard to deal with. And of course, we had the flying pig this weekend.

Starting point is 00:24:48 You know, officers had to go right back to putting a uniform on as they're trying to process what occurred to go in and protect the public, because that's what we're sworn to do. It's something that is certainly going to be very, very difficult to get us through this process. And it's my understanding, too, that Larry Henderson, I mean, this is somebody who had a wife. And I was reading last night, too, that I believe he was fostering some very young children. Yeah, I mean, just an absolute fantastic person, had a fantastic career in the sheriff's department

Starting point is 00:25:21 and then retired and decided that still wanted to be involved. So he became a special deputy that, you know, their primary function is to, you know, work off-duty details where, you know, on-duty people aren't available. You know, just to make some extra money in retirement, you know, to be able to take care of his family further, you know, the kids that he has. And it's just something that is absolutely senseless that never should have happened. Do you expect that the prosecutor, I know you can't speak for the prosecutor, but do you expect that they will? I mean, do you believe that Connie Pillich, the newly elected Hamilton County prosecutor, will seek the death penalty in this case? Well, the statement that she's made already is that she is going to throw the full force of the law to this defendant.

Starting point is 00:26:09 And under the full force of the law would mean that she's going to pursue the death penalty. She certainly hasn't made any statements saying that yet. But that is something that myself and every other police officer in this tri-state area expect that that is going to happen. Ken, is there anything else you'd like to add? No, I think it is important to note that through this tragedy, though, the outpouring of support from the community, as you saw the officers working the flying pig, the Reds were in town this weekend, has been incredible.

Starting point is 00:26:40 I know there's been a lot of keyboard warriors that have had threats towards the police and things like that on social media. But when you see people face to face, the good people in this community, elected leaders that have reached out to give condolences is something that, you know, at least there's been at least something good that has come out of this. But we fully expect that he will be prosecuted. And like I said, I will be doing everything in my power to make sure that the death penalty is pursued. And I know that you had told me before we started that you knew Larry Henderson just a little bit. You know, you didn't know him well, but you did know him a little bit. You know, just see him in passing. You know, I mean, it's kind of hard when you work in

Starting point is 00:27:21 Cincinnati, especially when we work with the Sheriff's Department and somebody that was involved in as many things as he was. It's kind of hard not to cross paths with a lot of the Sheriff's Department. They're a fantastic group of guys. And as I was talking to some deputies last night that knew him very, very well, that were really good friends with him, and just the stories that they're telling, it just speaks volumes of the character of him and how well loved he was and how much he's really going to be missed. And it's just a tragedy. It's just awful. Well, Ken Cobra, thank you so much. Thank you for joining me.

Starting point is 00:27:55 Thank you for having me. Someone had started a GoFundMe to raise money for Rodney Hinton's defense, that GoFundMe has been taken down and GoFundMe has actually issued an apology to the Fraternal Order of Police over that fundraiser. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Anjanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.

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Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Ohio Man Murdered Deputy Day After Police Shot His Son: Police

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Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Ohio Man Murdered Deputy Day After Police Shot His Son: Police

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