4/25/16 Friday the Maricopa County Attorney’s office submitted a motion to dismiss, without prejudice, the charges against accused Freeway shooter Leslie Merritt, Jr. Today that order was granted, and all charges dismissed.
Arizona law provides that when a case is ordered dismissed without prejudice, the case can then be refiled at a later date. A spokesman for the County Attorney’s office stated “additional forensic investigation” was needed.
The request for dismissal comes just days after Mr. Merritt’s bond was reduced to nothing, after several months in custody on a one million dollar bond, and he was allowed to return home subject only to electronic monitoring (which is now at an end, also).
The State’s experts originally claimed they could conclusively link a gun belonging to Merritt to the bullets fired in 4 of the 11 freeway shooting incidents which took place in fall of 2015; however, recent reports have cast doubt upon that link. While the case was still pending a gag order was in effect, so more details should now be forthcoming. Attorneys for Mr. Merritt have filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million dollars from the State, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, and Governor Doug Ducey.
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