Former Stamford police officer found not guilty in deadly crash that killed a pastor
Former Stamford officer Zachary Lockwood is charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle for a deadly on-duty crash in 2023 that killed a local pastor who was crossing the street.
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A former Stamford police officer who was charged in an on-duty crash that killed a local pastor was found not guilty Friday.
The six-person jury determined that Zachary Lockwood was not criminally negligent when he struck Rev. Tommie Jackson, a well-known pastor, as Jackson walked back to his home after checking the mailbox across the street.
About two hours into deliberations Friday, jurors sent a note saying they needed to see the judge. When Judge Peter McShane asked for more detail, a marshal told him the question concerned decision-making.
McShane brought jurors into the courtroom and told them he could not engage in informal dialogue with them. He then reread part of the jury instructions.
Just after noon, the jury sent another note asking, “What time was the official dispatch to Officer Lockwood?” The judge suggested that two exhibits entered into evidence could help answer the question.
The crash happened the afternoon of July 26, 2023, on Wire Mill Road in Stamford, a residential street with a 25 mph speed limit.
Lockwood was responding to a crash without injuries in another part of Stamford. He was initially dispatched for a nonemergency response but decided to upgrade it to an urgent response after learning that one of the drivers had returned with friends and was harassing the other driver.
Jurors have five days of testimony and evidence to consider, including Lockwood’s dashcam video. The footage shows him reaching 65 mph just before striking Jackson and traveling 46 mph while braking at the time of impact. His emergency lights were on, but his siren was not activated.
Lockwood is charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
He lost his job with Stamford police after an internal investigation into the crash.
The case was moved from Stamford to Milford to prevent any potential conflicts of interest with the Stamford State's Attorney's Office.
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