Episode 806: Stand With Darby with Keelin Darby

On this episode, Dennis speaks with Alabama Police Officer and
wife of former Huntsville Police officer, Ben Darby, who was
convicted of murder, Keelin Darby.


Officer Ben Darby responded to a suicide-by-cop scenario in 2018.
After recognizing that his partners were not utilizing sound
officer safety tactics by placing themselves in a potentially
deadly situation without cover and concealment within a few feet
of the armed subject, without their firearms drawn, Officer Darby
placed himself in front of his partners and gave multiple
warnings to the subject to put his gun down, which he was
pointing at his head. After making a furtive movement with his
head, shoulders, and firearm and after believing that his life
and the lives of his partners were in imminent threat of great
bodily harm or death, Officer Darby shot the subject, who was a
known white supremacist. It was later discovered that the subject
told his neighbor (a witness) that he intended on luring police
officers into his home to kill them because he hated cops.


After an Incident Review Board was conducted by the Huntsville
Police Department, the department found that Officer Darby’s
actions were within policy and justified under the rule of law.
The first two officers were sent back to the academy for remedial
training and later resigned. Officer Darby returned to work, and
within 4 months a secret grand jury was convened by the district
attorney. Officer Darby was charged with murder. Officer Darby
was given a plea deal consisting of probation and NO CUSTODY time
if he accepted an aggravated manslaughter conviction, which he
refused. The police chief, city council, and mayor of Huntsville
supported Ben Darby and paid the initial legal fees.


During the trial, the judge prevented exculpatory evidence from
being heard by the jury, including relevant testimony by the
neighbor and others, as well as applicable case law that would
have exonerated Officer Ben Darby (Graham v.
Connor, Tennessee V. Garner, Montoute v.
Carr, Garczynski v. Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office). This trial
was closed to the public—not open to family, friends, or me, due
to Covid restrictions and at the prosecution’s request. He was
denied qualified immunity and after multiple plea deals
consisting of NO prison time, my husband went to trial. During
the trial, the DA compared Officer Darby to a regular civilian
who barged into a random person’s house, shooting, and killing
them. Officer Ben Darby was sentenced to 25 years.


Today, Dennis and Keelin discuss the incident that unfolded
between her husband and the subject, the long fight they both
have endured in order to clear her husbands name and the
fortunate reversing of the trial courts decision.


Find more info at: https://standwithdarby.com/


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