White officer acquitted in death of black motorist

• Died of suffocation
• Defendant wept after the verdict
• 'This is not justice'
• Related stories and sites

PITTSBURGH (CNN) -- In a decision that has angered black activists, a white police officer was acquitted Wednesday of involuntary manslaughter in the death of an African-American motorist who died during a scuffle with police after a traffic stop.

Blacks chanted, "No justice, no peace!" and an angry crowd of about 50 formed outside the courthouse after John Vojtas, a 40-year-old officer in suburban Brentwood, Pennsylvania was cleared of the charges.

"By any means necessary, justice will be served," said Henry White, who is black. "A jury of peers does not mean all white."

Johnny Gammage was pulled over by police on October 12, 1995, while driving a Jaguar sedan owned by his cousin and business partner, professional football defensive lineman Ray Seals, who plays with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gammage emerged from the car carrying a cellular phone that police said they thought was a gun. While detained on the roadside, Gammage, 31, struggled with Vojtas and four other police officers.

Died of suffocation

Prosecutors argued that Vojtas started the fight by hitting Gammage and then used excessive force while Gammage was on the pavement.

During the seven-day trial, the coroner testified that Gammage died of suffocation caused by pressure on his back and neck.

Vojtas was one of three white police officers charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of the motorist.

According to the officers' testimony at a coroner's inquest, Gammage was driving erratically. After one of the officers pulled him over, the officers said, Gammage became so violent they had to restrain him by holding him on the ground.

During the struggle, Vojtas' thumb was bitten to the bone.

Defendant wept after the verdict

Vojtas, who could have gotten up to five years in prison, dropped his head and wept after the verdict. As he left the courthouse, he said: "Praise the Lord."

He said he hoped to return to police work. "I'm sorry that a tragic accident happened last year, or a little over a year ago. I know I'm going to learn from this accident. I hope to get trained better."

Vojtas was initially suspended but has been back on the force in a desk job since January. Brentwood's police chief said he will consult with city leaders to determine if Vojtas can return to the streets.

'This is not justice'

When asked about the jury after the verdict, prosecutor Anthony Krastek said: "I don't know what they were thinking, or what they felt was missing in our case."

Gammage's relatives were not there for the verdict. But his girlfriend, Jean Leflore of Syracuse, N.Y., said: "This man is a murderer, and they're letting him walk the streets. All (Gammage) did was struggle to breathe and live. And they beat him like a dog."

'This man is a murderer, and they're letting him walk the streets'

-- Gammage's girlfriend

She said the only difference between the Gammage case and the Rodney King beating is that "those police officers got caught because it's on camera."

Outside the courthouse, members of the African American Coalition for Justice rang bells loudly as sheriff's deputies escorted Vojtas through an angry crowd.

The trial for the other officers charged in the case, Brentwood Lt. Milton Mulholland and Baldwin patrolman Michael Albert, ended in a mistrial last month. A new trial is to take place next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

Related stories:

• Three white police officers charged in death of black man - November 27, 1995

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