911 records withheld in officer's slaying

DETROIT, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Detroit officials say they won't release 911 records in the shooting death of a city police officer because the records could taint potential jurors.

The Detroit News reports the city's assistant corporation counsel, Ellen Ha, said releasing the information could cause "widespread publicity" and taint a jury pool.

Officer Brian Huff was shot to death May 3 while investigating a 911 call from a woman who reportedly claimed someone had broken into the vacant duplex next door and fired shots.

"The 911 recording contains information that has not been disclosed," Ha wrote in her denial of the newspaper's public information request under the state's Freedom of Information Act. "The release of the 911 recording could cause widespread publicity, which may cause potential jurors to reach premature opinions."

Releasing the withheld segments of the 911 and dispatch audio recordings "would deprive a person or persons of the right to a fair trial or impartial administrative adjudication," she wrote.

Ha didn't elaborate.

Police have charged Jason Gibson, 25, with murder for allegedly shooting Huff as the officer walked through the front door of the empty duplex. Gibson also is charged with wounding three other officers. His trial is to start Oct. 18.

The News had reported in May investigators were seeking at least one other suspect, an alleged getaway car driver.

"There obviously is something more going on here than meets the eye," said Detroit News lawyer James E. Stewart, who has more than 30 years' experience in fighting for government records.

"I understand the sensitivity when there is an un-apprehended suspect at large, especially when it was a police officer who was slain," Stewart said. "But the extent to which authorities have circled the wagons in this case is unprecedented."