March 30 2021
Robert Lyle Holcomb
On Tuesday morning March 30th, we sat in on a court performance. We honestly don't know what Holcomb had done to get a warrant issued. We do know the original caper stemmed from 2017.
Here's some of the highlights we took in from the peanut gallery.
After some delay, Holcomb was brought into Circuit Court land minus chains and shackles. During the wait and Holcomb's name was called out three times without a response, Bailiff Gary King said something like: they are getting him ready, bringing him in Judge.
Immediately, Judge Jack Alsop raised his hand but didn't utter a word. We think, Alsop was trying to signal to King, don't say a word, that Holcomb is in the cell. Just a guess readers.
During jury selection, some new questions were asked the prospective jurors. They were asked if they sport tattoos and does tattoo wearing affect your decisions on his client. Also, time was spent figuring out who uses social media like the Russian Meddling site, Facebook and whether what they read amounts to a hill of beans.
We think Mr Holcomb's defense attorney is named Katz. Not sure if that's the right spelling but certainly, that's how his name is pronounced.
Before any real action got underway, Katz asked about 12 pictures from the arrest that were never forwarded to him. It sounded like Katz had only recently took the case, like attorney Andrew Chattin bailed out. Samples said he had provided the images to the last guy.
Judge Alsop likes things smooth flowing without wrinkles. When he heard the last minute request for the images, Alsop: Why didn't you file for em... That's the problems with lawyers!! Alsop said it was too late for the request.
Prosecutor Jim Samples provided opening remarks including: Black Shirt Caruthers and Green Shirt Greathouse were handing out warrants; there was a struggle, Holcomb attempted to disarm Tyler Caruthers.
From Katz: We will prove Tyler beat the stuffins out of Holcomb making the case have more charges, more serious charges.
Tyler was first on the stand, in a nutshell...
He and Greathouse were riding around in the Green Shirt mobile delivering warrants on Hansford Fork
They went to the door and heard noise inside; wifey answered the door and said Holcomb was hiding under the bed. The wifey went outside the residence
Both Badges headed to the bedroom to take custody of Holcomb where there was a struggle.
Holcomb put his hand on my holster. Later Tyler corrected himself and said Holcomb had a hand on the pistol grip.
Caruthers told the jury, Holcomb was on his back when he reached for the service weapon. Tyler said he yelled out, your grabbing my weapon!!!
Tyler, "We were struggling to get control..... I was fighting for my life!!... My goal was to get him in custody..."
Prosecutor Samples asked if Tyler beat Holcomb in the face. Tyler, No.
Those pictures, the ones Samples didn't want entered into evidence, they were. We could only see the images as they were passed around the jurors. We saw some side shots, front shots and what looked like blood coming out of Holcomb's ear. There were also pictures of the Badges' hands and knuckles. Oddly, they were not color pictures, only black and white.
Katz's cross to Caruthers were along the lines of, how long did it take you to subdue him? Do you consider yourself to be strong? And, did you strike Holcomb? As for beating the stuffins out Holcomb, Tyler, "I don't recall striking him." Isn't that interesting, maybe on the coy side.
When shown the pictures, Caruthers would NOT say he saw any damage to the guy's head and body. About the discoloration on the forehead, Tyler, " I see none." As for seeing fist prints on Holcomb's forehead and damage, " Tyler, "I strongly disagree with that!"
Caruther did admit to see some damage to the guy's lip.
At one point, Tyker Caruthers testified, Holcomb was on his belly when he went for the holster... the gun grip. remember that readers.
Somewhere in the testimony the Black Shirt provided: Greathouse was straddling Holcomb on the floor.
Adding some detail: Caruther said he lifted up the bed and Greathouse grabbed Holcomb.
After the 11am break, it was time for Green Shirt Greathouse to step up to the stand.
at first Greathouse's testimony was in lock step with what had been said before but with some details. Greathouse said he grabbed Holcomb by the right had and pulled him up followed by putting him on the ground; Holcomb was not cooperating; Greathouse knew of the guy but had no hate for him; Greathouse heard Tyler say the part about Holcomb going after the gun but did NOT see it happen.
Note: Both Badges are in a small bedroom, shoulder to shoulder
Samples, did you rough him up? Green Shirt: No
After another line of questions, Samples showed the Trooper a couple of the pictures. Greathouse said "did put a couple blows to the body" but we can't remember if he said he did the punching or if it was compliments Caruthers.
As for the various abrasions on Holcomb's body, Greathouse surmised, that could have come from the metal badges on their shirts, rubbing against the guy.
Then came Katz with, with Holcomb lying on his hands [belly down]? Green Shirt, Yes. Do you see the marks on the forehead? Yes. Do you see the abrasions? Yes. In some other picture, do you see the redden knuckles? Yes.
When Katz was done with Greathouse, Samples: See any preexisting injuries? No. Did you do what you were trained to do? "I did nothing unusual... Tyler did nothing unusual.."
At one point, Katz got Greathouse to admit, he didn't see Holcomb's hand on Caruther's gun.
With the jury out of ear shot, Katz asked that everything be dismissed. He questioned, how the heck can you go for someone's gun if you're laying on your belly, on the ground , and they're standing above ya?
The dismal idea went nowhere.
Now it's time for 46 year old Robert L Holcomb to take the stand. Dressed in all black and neatly shaven, his words painted quite a different picture.
Some of the highlights include: there was no bed; instead, there were two mattresses stacked on top of each other on the floor; there was no bed frame to lift up; how the heck do you lie under or in between two mattresses?
He explained, He was standing when the Badge came in and within just a step or two, he could have been out the back door, but didn't try.
Holcomb went on to say, it was Caruthers that jerked him to the ground and with gloves on, beat the holy crap out of him. Here's a keeper folks, according to Holcomb, it was Greathouse that told Tyler, "He's had enough."
As for Holcomb trying to disarm the Badge, Holcomb, "Never in my life"
That part about the Badges fearing that Holcomb might be concealing a weapon... Holcomb attested, all he had on was underwear!
Bringing home the key points with Holcomb....
Were you under a bed? No
Did you reach for the gun? No
Did you resist? No.
When looking at the evidence pictures, Holcomb highlighted the blood dripping from his ear, the black eyes, and told the jury, the darkened hands (redden) were because the arresting officer drug him to the cruiser while his hands were behind his back.
He told the Court, he had been hand cuffed during everything, Holcomb, "I was standing when they came in and handcuffed the entire time!
Around 1:30pm, there were no more witnesses to be heard from.
Samples did his best job at fishin out a weak case. He said it didn't matter if there was no bed to be lifted and it was only mattresses. Samples did his quiet talk routine to try and get the jurors to listen a little better.
Katz pulled the case together with: this case is mostly about Caruthers saying Holcomb went for the gun; first the Black shirt said Holcomb went for the holster and then only later went for the gun grip; when asked, Tyler (at first) admitted to striking Holcomb; then, only later , did Caruthers change the story to "I don't remember"; The Green Shirt never saw the bad guy go for a gun; Holcomb was on his belly so how could he go after a gun?; and, how do you hide between two mattresses... wouldn't that look like a lumpy sandwich????
And then and then, Katz told the jury, Tyler had to create a stronger crime case because they're skeered of future civil cases coming their way. Kazt, "They went overboard".
Katz finished with the part about Holcomb's forehead beat all to crap and blood flowing from one ear.
So was reasonable doubt created?
It took the jury over an hour to decide, they believed the Badges more than Mr Holcomb. Holcomb was found guilty. and marched back to CRJ.
Still, with all the under oath contradictions, someone had to be fibbing.
AW