PHOENIX - The State of Arizona has moved to dismiss all charges against accused freeway shooter Leslie Merritt, Junior. According to Merritt's attorney, the state filed the motion Friday.
Merritt was released from jail earlier this week after a judge reduced his bond to $0
Merritt was arrested in August and indicted on 15 felony counts in connection with some of the eleven confirmed shootings which happened on Arizona freeways last year. DPS officials said they had ballistic evidence tying him to four shooting incidents on Interstate 10 in Arizona which happened between August 27 and 29.
Merritt entered a plea of not guilty, and his lawyers have challenged the strength of the state's evidence against him, pointing out officials altered the timeline of when they occurred and accused DPS of lying to witnesses and withholding evidence .
Merritt and his lawyers filed a lawsuit last month against the State of Arizona, Maricopa County, Governor Doug Ducey and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery for $10 million in compensation for lost wages, legal fees and emotional stress .
Merritt's lawyer Jason Lamm and DPS Capt. Damon Cecil both declined to comment, saying the judge's gag order prohibiting discussing the case remains in effect until the charges are officially dismissed.
