The key to the Cincinnati Police Department's internal investigation of Officer Stephen Roach came down to the differences in his two statements to homicide detectives about shooting Timothy Thomas.

        The first statement, April 7, in Roach's words:

        “I went around to the other side of the abandoned building where there is kind of a narrow hallway that's between the abandoned building and a concrete wall. I'd say it's maybe 2 or 3 feet wide. I started back that walkway. ...

        “It was dark. There was no lighting. I took maybe five to 10 steps back the hallway and the suspect matching the description (Mr. Thomas) again came around the corner at the back of this abandoned building. ...

        “He had his left (hand) on his pants and he had his right hand inside his pants. Down into his pants, probably halfway up his forearm down into his pants. At that point, the suspect wasn't necessarily running. He was, uh, I'd say a fast walk.

        “At that point, I yelled to the suspect, "Show me your hands.' When I yelled, ... he looked up directly at me. Reached what appeared to be deeper into his pants. Appeared to grab something out of his pants and, uh, extended his right hand toward me.

        “At this point ... is when I started to draw my service weapon.

        “Began to bring it up on line as he came out from his pants and made the aggressive movement towards me. I fired one shot. The suspect immediately fell to the ground. When he made the aggressive movement toward me, he had taken another step toward me, his left hand stayed on his pants. His left hand did not move.”

        The second statement, three days later on April 10:

        “Um, I saw the suspect drop down on the north side of the fence. Um, I ran, uh, northbound on Republic Street to, I believe, uh, it was 1224 Republic St., the abandoned building there on the north side. And, uh, went around the corner down, a, uh ... I kinda characterize it as a hallway. It's kind of an outside sidewalk that's between a fence. ...

        “I started back the, uh, the hallway ... I, I thought I was walking, but on the tape, it shows that I was still at least in a jog. ... Um, and I was a, a good distance back the hallway. I don't know exactly how far, when the suspect came out from behind the building and had his hands in his pants and was looking down.

        “Um, I screamed, "Let me see your hands!' And at the same time, I was in the middle of a draw of my weapon. ... This was like, a, second after he had popped around the corner ... And, uh, he very, very quickly removed his hands from, from his pants. ...

        “And, uh, (Mr. Thomas' hands) came up in front of him, and I didn't see what, where he, where he put his hands. I mean they came up from, from his waistband. And they jerked up.

        “And, uh, as I was in the middle of the draw, it,it "spooked' me, and I, uh, pulled the trigger. Um, at, at that point his very quick movement “spooked” me into pulling the trigger.

        “I did not intend to pull the trigger.”

Related stories:
Police inquiry scorches Roach
Video showed officer lied
Chief supported Roach early
Evendale leaders shrug at report
Racial, police, legal issues converge as anniversary nears
Streicher's statement
Timeline of Roach-Thomas case

Police inquiry scorches Roach
Video showed officer lied
Chief supported Roach early
Different statements key in investigation
Evendale leaders shrug at report
Racial, police, legal issues converge as anniversary nears
Streicher's statement
Timeline of Roach-Thomas case
Graham refuses to halt mission
Hispanic tastes feed businesses
Anti-boycotters meet, brainstorm
Anti-lead paint campaign readied
Cranley chooses UC legal faculty
High-school critics assess diverse musicals
Hike/bike trail raises concerns
Kids' weight, heart risk tied
Lodging tax debate starts anew
Negotiators hope to reach agreement today
Tristate A.M. Report
Two shot dead, one stabbed
BRONSON: Roach report
HOWARD: Some Good News
SAMPLES: Not-so-big news
SMITH AMOS: Praying for change
Attorney accused of sexual assault
Forum tackles Liberty growth
Hospital president criticizes leaders
Principal, board mum on departure
Run benefits ill Oxford girl
Puck kills fan during NHL game
Defendants in pilot's killing face separate trials
Kenton County schools seek workers at job fair
Kentucky fears more flooding
Priest cases upset faithful
Tax reform goal of baby steps