Suspect convicted of third-degree murder in police officer’s death
A West Virginia man was convicted recently of third-degree murder in the death of an officer killed during a vehicle pursuit in Greene County in February.
On Dec. 13, a Greene County jury found Jerod Green, 36, of Morgantown, W.Va., guilty of third degree murder, homicide by vehicle while under the influence, homicide by vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude police, and two counts of DUI. He was on trial in connection with the Jan. 18 death of Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Michael Todd May whose police cruiser was struck by Green’s vehicle.
Green had been charged with murder of a law enforcement officer in the first degree, but the jury acquitted him of the first-degree homicide charge.
The incident with Green began with a hit and run accident in Morgantown involving Green’s 2009 Chevrolet Silverado. Green was stopped by police and said he initially ran because of four prior felony DUIs. He then fled, briefly dragging an officer who had asked him to take a field sobriety test.
Several police departments then joined in the pursuit as Green drove into Pennsylvania where he got onto the southbound ramp of Interstate 79 in Mt. Morris.
May had joined the pursuit at that point. He had been heading north and crossed the median to join the pursuit. Another officer said he saw May’s patrol vehicle appear to be waiting along the berm for Green, when Green’s vehicle moved directly across the interstate toward May’s police car. The officer said May appeared to try to avoid a head-on collision by entering the highway, but at the last moment, Green turned right and struck the patrol vehicle.
According to a release from Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox, Green was traveling at 98 mph immediately prior to the crash and did not apply his brakes.
May died a short while later at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
Green will be sentenced following a pre-sentencing investigation.