ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The defense team for Markeith Loyd said Orlando police acted unprofessionally when they arrested their client.
Loyd is accused of killing Lt. Debra Clayton outside a Walmart in 2017 while running from police after killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon.
A new motion details two Orange County Sheriff’s deputies’ concerns about the behavior of Orlando police officers at the scene. Loyd’s defense team said in a newly filed motion they’re looking to prove “a showing of bias by the Orlando Police Department in conducting their investigation.”
Read: Prosecutors: No proof that Orlando police mistreated Markeith Loyd
In the motion, the defense team wants to depose Orlando Police Lt. Doug Goerke, who they say, devised the plan to use Clayton’s handcuffs to take Lloyd into custody. The motion claims Goerke made the decision for the police department to take over the arrest and give them the opportunity to use deadly force.
The State Attorney’s office cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing for kicking and punching Loyd. State prosecutors say there is no proof that Orlando police officers mistreated Loyd.
The Orlando Police Department has not yet concluded its internal review of the officers involved.
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