Juan Laws
On Tuesday, a Madison County judge ruled that Juan Laws cannot represent himself in court.
WAAY 31 spoke with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Police Department about the delay in justice for their officer and what the case means for them, as well as for Laws moving forward.
Deputy Chief Michael Johnson from the Â鶹´«Ã½ Police Department recalls the intense emotions felt throughout the department on the day they lost one of their own.
“Shock…Domestic violence calls are the worst kinds of calls an officer can respond to, so as that call developed, we knew it was serious,†Johnson said.
He noted the loss of Officer Garrett Crumby is profound, and their main focus now is supporting the family and trusting the judicial process. A process that, over a year later, has been further delayed due to Laws’ request to change his legal representation.
“The defendant, Mr. Laws, had filed a motion seeking to have me removed from his case,†said Laws’ attorney, Bruce Gardner.
A Madison County judge denied the request on Tuesday. Gardner stated he feels well-prepared for the case.
“I’m staying on as the second chair... Larry and I are going to represent this young man to the best of our abilities and get back on track,†Gardner said.
The next step for Laws, as ordered by the judge, is a mental evaluation. Johnson emphasized the importance of trusting the judicial system.
“Once the cuffs are on, we have to trust that the criminal justice process, along with the professionals and the judicial system, will make the right decisions,†Johnson said.
He added that as the case progresses through the judicial system, they will support each other every step of the way.
“Our goal right now is to support our police family and the Crumby family as this case moves forward,†Johnson concluded.
