GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – While the man who shot and killed Clay County Detective David White during a drug bust was also killed in the raid, prosecutors began laying out their case Tuesday at the trial of Ryan Wilder (pictured below), the first of four people facing a murder charge in the deputy's death.
White, 35, was killed serving a search warrant at a suspected meth house on Alligator Boulevard in Middleburg in February 2012.
Investigators said Ted Tilley shot and killed White, then Clay County deputies killed Tilley. White's partner, Matt Hanlin, was shot in the arm and recovered. Hanlin testified Tuesday.
"I fell over top of Detective White in that area," he said. "I kind of rolled off of him and I came back up and had my gun drawn. I scooted back up to the doorway to see who was shooting. I didn't see anybody with a gun. I didn't see anybody shooting at me."
"I looked down and had a pretty large hole in my arm, and it was pumping blood profusely. I knew I was hit and I was hit in an artery, so I transitioned my gun to my left hand to try to pinch off my arm as best I could to try to sustain the blood flow."
"After I went over and was down to my knees and Detective Murphy found me a few minutes later, I was put in a tourniquet for my arm. I could tell something was going on at the front door because of the commotion and everybody yelling."
Hanlin said that's when he saw White on the ground, motionless, and knew he had been shot.
Wilder is charged with felony murder based on a drug trafficking charge. Under the charge, each person assisting in the death is responsible when someone is killed during the commission of a felony.
Wilder and three others were in the house at the time Tilley (pictured below) killed White.
During opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Steve Nelson explained how Wilder and others made meth and described the meth evidence recovered in the house. He talked about how White and other Clay County deputies knocked on the door and demanded to be let in.
During the defense's opening statements, attorney Ann Finnell said Wilder was addicted to meth, but he "didn't do anything other than go over there and be a drug addict and smoke it."
Finnell said Wilder didn't have the gun, didn't fire a gun and didn't make the meth.
"Wilder was unarmed, surrendering himself to the police," Finnell said.
She said there was no danger to the community or investigators because the meth was already made.
"These acts were the independent acts of Ted Tilley and was an event that Ryan Wilder did not intend to happen," Finnell said. "The bottom line was, ladies and gentleman, this was a really kind of botched operation here. We have a police officer dead, another police officer seriously hurt and one dead criminal."
White (pictured) was a nine-year veteran of the force. He was a graduate of Middleburg High School and an Army veteran. He left behind a wife and two young children.
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Wilder is also charged with several counts of attempted murder. Also arrested that night were Jennifer Alder, Chasity Prescott and Jerry Daniels, who are all awaiting trial for murder and other charges.
State Attorney Angela Corey and Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda were also in the Clay County courtroom for Tuesday morning's opening statements.
Monday was spent picking jurors to hear the case. One of the main questions for perspective jurors was how much media coverage they had seen on the case and if they can put that aside to be fair and impartial.
Most of the potential jurors questioned Monday do not own a firearm. Some of the reasons potential jurors may have a problem serving include: One has frequent heart attacks; another has an oncology appointment; another is getting married Friday and then going on his honeymoon. Attorneys also asked the jury pool if there were any smokers who wouldn't be able to stand not taking frequent breaks.
Attorneys asked if the potential jurors knew anyone involved in this case, if they have family members in law enforcement or if they had donated to any funds to help White's family.