Twitty

        A Hamilton County grand jury's decision is expected to be announced today in the case of Cincinnati Police Lt. Col. Ron Twitty's wrecked car.

        Officials would not comment about any possible announcement. But notes circulated in Cincinnati Police District 1 said extra officers should be kept on standby today in case of any fallout after an announcement pertaining to Col. Twitty.

        Grand jurors heard testimony throughout last week, including from the first two officers on the scene, those who repaired the 2001 city-owned gray Ford Taurus and from Chief Tom Streicher.

Lt. Col. Ronald Twitty's damaged car | ZOOM |

        The prosecutor's office presents options for charges to the grand jury. But jurors can vary from those or return a “no true bill,” which means they did not find that Col. Twitty should be charged at all.

        If convicted of a felony, Col. Twitty could lose the pension he has built over his 29-year career.

        The chief put Col. Twitty, 52, on paid leave July 12, three days after he learned that the city's highest-ranking black officer had reported his car wrecked early July 4. Col. Twitty said the car must have been hit while he slept in his Bond Hill apartment.

        But Chief Streicher doubted that, initially because there was no debris at the scene and because the car was perfectly parallel-parked, not moved by the impact. Photos of the car showed the headlight intact, but the hood crumpled and about an 8-inch hole torn in the left front bumper.

        Col. Twitty's lawyer, former federal prosecutor Sharon Zealey, has maintained that her client does not know what happened to the car and that a smear campaign has been waged against him. His supporters, including fellow congregants at New Friendship Baptist Church in Avondale, have been raising money for his legal fees.

Grand jury's Twitty decision due today
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