Police Officer Richard Chrisman Indicted by Maricopa Grand Jury in Shooting Death of Unarmed Man, Frank Rodriguez

Officer Richard Chrisman was indicted by a Maricopa County grand jury on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of an unarmed man -- Frank Rodriguez -- on October 5, 2010. According to the Arizona Republic, Chrisman was also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and cruelty to animals.

Officer Chrisman is no stranger to being accused of unsavory and criminal behavior as a police officer. According to the Arizona Republic, he was one of four police officers caught on surveillance video planting a drug pipe on a mentally challenged homeless woman as a joke in 2005. He was reportedly disciplined and suspended for one day. His name was placed on the "Brady List," which is named for a court case regarding police officers who had committed acts that called their judgment into question, the newspaper said. The Brady List is known as a police black list.

Rodriguez asked to see a warrant when the officers entered the home, and Chrisman reportedly put his gun to Rodriguez's head and told him he didn't need a warrant, according to court documents. The documents went on to say that both officers fired their stun guns against Rodriguez. Then Chrisman sprayed him with pepper spray and shot a young dog barking in the living room.

Virgillo told investigators the dog was not threatening them and he saw no reason why Chrisman would shoot it. The suspect asked why Chrisman had shot his dog, and Virgillo said he tried to calm Rodriguez down and talk him into coming outside. Rodriguez told the officers he was leaving with his bicycle, but Virgillo moved to block the door and Chrisman began struggling with Rodriguez over the handlebars. Chrisman then reportedly pulled out his handgun and shot Rodriguez more than once. Rodriguez died at the scene. Source

Why did it take this long for an indictment to be brought against Officer Chrisman? To add insult to injury, he was reportedly arrested about five hours after the shooting and was freed on bail. Most civilians who commit such a crime would be denied bond or their bond would be so high, they wouldn't be able to come up with the money.