WEST FORK, Ark. — A jury found former West Fork police officer Christopher Cordeiro not guilty of negligent homicide for a deadly traffic stop nearly two years ago.
On Dec. 29, 2022, Cordeiro initiated a traffic stop as an officer that resulted in 49-year-old Michael Hanna's death.
Cordeiro's trial for Hanna's death began on Dec. 3 when the jury heard testimony from witnesses, a medical examiner, and law enforcement personnel who responded to the call.
The jury, which was evenly split between six women and six men, watched Cordeiro's body cam footage as well as body cam footage from responding officer Katelyn Griffin. The video shows Griffin applying life-saving measures to Hanna.
When the medical examiner took the stand, he said there were several causes of Hanna's death. According to the examiner, he died from complications of heart disease, illicit drugs in his system, and the circumstances of his death, which were restraint, struggle, and physical exertion.
On the second day of trial, Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett argued that instead of deescalating the situation, Cordeiro made it worse. He said there was a standard of care that Cordeiro did not follow.
The defense maintained that Cordeiro was not guilty of any crime, asserting that he was doing his job during the traffic stop. Additionally, the defense claimed other factors like drugs and heart disease played a role in Hanna's death. Two witnesses, who were called by the defense, also said they believed Cordeiro was justified in his actions.
The jury reached its verdict shortly after the defense and the state rested its case and ultimately found Cordeiro not guilty on Dec. 4, 2024.
While Durrett said he was disappointed by the outcome, he knew this case had to be decided by a jury.
"This is a community issue, and the jurors are the conscience of the community," Durrett said. "I've felt pretty strongly that they needed to be the ones to decide whether or not officer Cordeiro was guilty in this case. They heard all the evidence, and they decided we didn't meet our burden."
The traffic stop
According to ASP, Hanna was pulled over for a suspended license along U.S. Highway 71 in West Fork. Hanna allegedly told Cordeiro that his blood sugar was low and that he needed to eat some food before stepping out of his vehicle, which Cordeiro had asked him to do.
After a back-and-forth, Hanna agreed to get out if Cordeiro “got out of the way,” according to documents.
It was then Cordeiro “reached in the vehicle and physically removed” Hanna, telling him if he didn't comply, he would “use his Taser,” documents state. Hanna responded to the threat of being tased by saying he had a heart condition.
When Hanna “did not put his hands behind his back,” Cordeiro tased him. Officials said Hanna “fell to the ground and began rolling around.” Cordeiro allegedly tased him “multiple times,” and called for backup. Hanna is documented as saying “multiple times” that he couldn't breathe after he was tased by Cordeiro.
Cordeiro's backup was Officer Griffin with the Greenland Police Department. When she arrived, Cordeiro had Hanna “restrained face down in a ditch," according to officials. Griffin reportedly checked for a pulse and didn't find one.
Griffin called paramedics, who declared Hanna dead at the scene after they got there.
According to the autopsy, the cause of Hanna's death was revealed to be “a combination of heart disease, methamphetamine intoxication, along with physical exertion, struggle, and restraint.” The autopsy also revealed that Hanna's injuries from the Taser “played a role in his death.” The autopsy said it's unclear how much the tasing was related to the death, but it tied in.
He pleaded not guilty to the negligent homicide charge at a court appearance on Aug. 9, 2023.
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