2 Of 3 Suspects In Jacobs Field Explosion Cleared
Defense Says Video Surveillance Proves Clients' Innocence
POSTED: 4:40 p.m. EST January 29, 2003
CLEVELAND -- The cases against two of the three men accused of setting off a large firecracker at Jacobs Field in June were dismissed in court on Wednesday.
NewsChannel5's Ted Hart reported that the explosion injured two people at the ballpark.
Defense attorneys said they pored over hours of Jacobs Field surveillance tapes and found pictures of the two defendants, Clifton Oliver (pictured, far right) and Donald Krieger (pictured, right), on the opposite side of Jacobs Field just 30 seconds after the explosion.
With that evidence now in play, the two defendants believe Wednesday's dismissal means it's over.
"We didn't do this, and now everybody knows we didn't do this," Oliver said. "We were just in the wrong place at (the) wrong time, and (there were) people not doing their jobs correctly."
"They had to pin it on somebody," Krieger said. "They couldn't be caught with their pants down."
But Assistant Prosecutor Ed Fitzgerald said he expects to reindict Krieger and Oliver.
"There's a defense theory (that they) think exonerates their involvement," he said. "That is not the state's position. (I) think they're in for a rude awakening -- let me put it that way."
The prosecutor said he still has a good case against the third suspect, Andrew Mendez.
NewsChannel5's Ted Hart reported that the explosion injured two people at the ballpark.
Defense attorneys said they pored over hours of Jacobs Field surveillance tapes and found pictures of the two defendants, Clifton Oliver (pictured, far right) and Donald Krieger (pictured, right), on the opposite side of Jacobs Field just 30 seconds after the explosion.
With that evidence now in play, the two defendants believe Wednesday's dismissal means it's over.
"We didn't do this, and now everybody knows we didn't do this," Oliver said. "We were just in the wrong place at (the) wrong time, and (there were) people not doing their jobs correctly."
"They had to pin it on somebody," Krieger said. "They couldn't be caught with their pants down."
But Assistant Prosecutor Ed Fitzgerald said he expects to reindict Krieger and Oliver.
"There's a defense theory (that they) think exonerates their involvement," he said. "That is not the state's position. (I) think they're in for a rude awakening -- let me put it that way."
The prosecutor said he still has a good case against the third suspect, Andrew Mendez.
Previous Stories:
- July 11, 2002: Elyria Men Face Charges In Jacobs Field Blast
- June 16, 2002: Fireworks Blast Suspects Claim They're Innocent
- June 14, 2002: 3 Men Charged In Jake Fireworks Blast
- June 13, 2002: 3 Men Jailed After Jacobs Field Explosion
Copyright 2003 by NewsNet5. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.










