CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Nearly three years since Clay County Detective David White was shot and killed in the line of duty, the first defendant is standing trial for his murder.
Three other co-defendants will be tried separately.
While defendant Ryan Wilder didn’t pull the trigger, prosecutors said he’s just as guilty.
The man who police said did the actual shooting was killed that day. But Wilder, who was inside the home at the time, is facing serious charges. The state argues he wasn’t just an innocent bystander. But the defense is trying to paint a different picture.
Wearing a dark suit and glasses, Wilder sat down in court Tuesday morning. The trial kicked off with graphic details of the day White was killed.
"David White was shot in the head; he also had a graze wound on the top of his head," said prosecutor Steve Nelson.
Several sheriffs' deputies who were there on Feb. 16, 2012 took the stand, including Matthew Hanlin.
Hanlin was shot in the arm that day. He said they had been keeping an eye on a home in Middleburg after receiving a tip on a possible meth lab, and their intention was to do a knock-and-talk, but the people inside the home didn't want to talk to them.
"When it first opened, it immediately smelled of chemicals," Hanlin said.
After trying to talk to the people inside, convicted felon Ted Tilley started shooting at deputies. He was eventually killed on-site.
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“The next thing I remember was being on the ground where (unintelligible) I fell over on top of Detective White in that area. I kind of rolled off of him, I came back up,” Hanlin said.
Wilder was one of five people inside the home at the time. His lawyer said he was there to get high and that when police arrived, he cooperated.
"The evidence in this case will prove that Ryan Wilder is not guilty of felony murder because that was the independent act of Ted Tilley," said defense attorney Ann Finnell.
The state brought out maps to show exactly where deputies were positioned that day; some were behind the home, but Hanlin, White and Det. Gary Lavarone were all at the front door.
At first, Hanlin said they didn't even realize they were being shot at.
"At that point, I felt like my arm was real warm, pumping blood profusely," Hanlin said.
It wasn't until later that they noticed White was fatally wounded.
"He was actually cradling in his arms," Hanlin said.
But the defense said if the Clay County Sheriff's Office would've followed proper procedures like obtaining search warrants or arrest warrants, White would be alive today.
"This was a botched operation. We have a dead deputy, another who is seriously wounded and a dead criminal," Finnell said.
The trial is expected to last through the week. Wilder, the first defendant in this case, is facing seven charges.
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