Fairborn Judge Beth Root has ruled there is probable cause to prosecute Ronald Ritchie, the 911 caller who reported that John Crawford III was carrying a gun inside a Beavercreek Walmart in August of 2014. Crawford was holding a BB gun sold by the store when he was shot by police responding to the call.
The ruling follows affidavits, filed in Fairborn Municipal Court, on March 25 by private citizens. They say “glaring questions remain” about Ritchie’s role in the incident after syncing the 911 call to in store surveillance video.
If found guilty of filing a false claim—a 1st degree misdemeanor, Ritchie could face 6 months in jail, and $1000 fine.
