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THE ROLE OF THE INVESTIGATING
POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVES
Note: All commentary by Mr. Carmen Woods noted in blue bold type
This shows strong bias on the part of the major investigating detective, Detective Tywnan, a personal friend of Chester Laws Sr. (AKA "Tiger"), father of the deceased who masterminded my road to prison. Detective Tywnan picked the facts that supported his bias and ignored any contradictions.
On the night of May 16, 1982 many neighbors said they either heard something that sounded like a shot, but saw nothing. Some neighbors said they heard someone running.
There was only one neighbor at this time (May 16, 1982) that said he saw a guy run after the shot with a gun in his hand, he ran from Felton into Media and jumped into a waiting car and drove off! This neighbor named Mr. Hill gave a description of the car and a license tag number (whether he got the number right or not is in question).
I will give you the meaningful statements made on the night of May 16, 1982:
Note: We realize that the following statements are, at times, ungrammatical. These are the uncensored authentic, original statements, and in the interest of the preservation of their authenticity, we present them in their original format. If you prefer to see the actual police statements, go to "Documents" then select "Statements".
Mrs. Nellie Lane – age 53, states "She didn't hear shot heard someone knocking on Chester's door, she couldn’t see who was knocking on the door, Chester was laying out on the street, she called police, police radio said it had already been called. She didn’t recognize the male from the neighborhood.
Detective Alfimo
Homer Lane – age 29, states “His mother woke him up, he looked out window and saw victim lying an highway and neighbors around him-the lady at 1515 Felton, a little boy named Omar that lives up the street, he's about 18 yrs old, I think he lives at 1545 N. Felton, there was another boy with him, they both live in the same house, that’s about it.
Detective Alfimo
Brian Ellison -5/16/82 - We were coming home about 2:35AM when me and Omar Ancrum came walking around to Felton St. from Media St. at about 1525 we ran into a guy who asked us if we knew a fellow laying in the street between parked cars. We both knew him as Chester Laws, 17 who lived at 1517 Felton. He had a hole in his forehead and was bleeding bad, we knocked on the door to his house and we finally got his brother Stephen up after I had to run up to my house to telephone the police. The man who stopped who stopped us was a stranger butt he lives with a lady who lives down the street on the other side. She owns a LT, a white or tan car.
We had all been outside Stacey's Bar at Redfield/Lansdowne Ave, Chet left to go home about 8 or 7 mutes before me and Omar. He walked West on Lansdowne Ave. When we left we walked south on Redfield St, to Media. Then West to Felton St. that’s when we found him, when we turned up Felton from Media St.
Q. Did Chet have any arguments or fights last night that you know of?
A. No, we were all just talking and he said that he was just going to go home.
Detective Cleary
Omar Ancrum - 5-16-82
Q. Omar, do you understand that Chester Laws is dead of a gun-shot wound of the head?
A. Yes
Q. Did you know Chester Laws?
A. Oh, yes
Q. How well did you know Chester?
A. Very well. I watched him grow up
Q. Do you know the circumstances of his death?
A. Me and Bryant Ellison came around the corner and walked into Felton St. I saw this car in the middle of the street with the flashers on, when we got up to the car I could see this guy laying in the street and I thought it was a drunk. The guy standing by the car asked me if I knew who he was. I walked over and looked at his face and I said, "That’s Chet" then we went down to Chet’s house and started banging on the door but nobody came to the door. Then I went back to Chet and felt for his pulse; it was real weak so I told Bryant to go back to Chet's house and call for the police, I could see the stream of blood coming out of his head. It was a long stream so figured he had been there for a while.
 Brian went to his house to call for the police. That’s when I asked the guy what had happened. He said "that he had just pulled up and he thought he might have hit him, he was pretty tipsy. Brian came back and said that he had called the police. Five to eight minutes went past and the police had not arrived so Brian and I walked to the corner and when the rescue came by we flagged it down. That’s when I begin to mingle with the crowd. I heard someone say that they saw a tall thin fellow running up the street. I didn't learn who had said this. I told police what I knew and what I had heard in the crow. I told the female officer that I had been talking with Chet just a little before. I was standing in Stacey's Lounge, Lansdowne and Redfield, talking to Chet and that was between a quarter to two and ten after two. Carmen Woods came by, with his brother Allen they was walking West an Lansdowne and Carmen spoke to us as he went by. He disappeared at 60th and Lansdowne, about five minutes later, Carmen came riding by, going East on Lansdowne in a blue car; he yelled out the window and waved to us as he went by. About two minutes later, Chet started walking West on Lansdowne Ave. and I watched him all the way to 62nd Street.
Q. Do you have any ideal who might have killed Chet?
A. The only person I could think of is Carmen . Last summer, Carmen and Chet had a fight and Carmen broke his jaw. Chet decided to get even and he shot Carmen in the leg, I know because Chet told me. Since this time until the last two weeks, Chet had been spending his nights in Germantown. Over the last two weeks, I've seen Chet and Carmen paling around and Chet began staying at 1525 Felton St, again. Before, he would leave before night. Also, when I heard that there was a tall, thin male seen running North on Felton Street after this shooting, I thought of Carmen, he's about 6'3 or 6'5, he has a slender build, around 170 pounds light complexion, mustache, short haircut and a very neat dresser.
Q. When you last saw Chet, exactly where was he laying?
A. There was the distance of at least a car length on the East side of Felton St, in front of 1525 N. Felton; Chet was laying off the side walk on his side, head pointing South slightly angled toward the center of the street, his right shoulder was on the ground and his right arm was under him.
Q. What time did you enter Felton St?
A. I really couldn't say what time it was.
Q. How long after you last seen Chet walking West on Lansdowne Ave?
A. About thirty to thirty to thirty five minutes.
Q. Prior to entering Felton St, did you hear any shots?
A. No, I didn't
Q. Prior to entering Felton St, did you see anyone running from this street?
A. No
Q. Prior to entering Felton St, did you see a car leaving Felton St?
A. No, I didn't.
Q. Is there anything else you wish to add to this statement?
A. No
Q. Can you describe the car you saw Carmen in tonight?
A. It was blue with a half white vinyl top and I think it's a Buick because it has "Special" right on the side of it.
Q. While you were in the crowd and heard some saying that they see someone running, what type of voice made this statement?
A. It was a male.
Q. Do you know the names of any of the people who made up this crowd?
A. There was Mr. Colman, 1538 Felton; the guy who lives at 1539; some people from around the corner, I didn't know them; Marcy I don't know her last name, she lives at 1507 N. Felton; Mrs. Mclaughlin, I'm not sure but I think it's 1510; the other people I didn't know.
Interviewed by Detective Twynan
 Dwight Logan
Q. What happened concerning the shooting of Chester Laws on 5/16/07 that you can tell me?
  A. I was upstairs at my house (1539 N. Felton St.) watching television. I was in the front bedroom which faces Felton St. I heard this loud sound like a gunshot. I went to the window to look out and I didn’t see anybody. So, I thought that it sure sounded like a gunshot. I looked at the clock and I saw that it was about Ten after Two. Then I sat back on the bed. I was real curious about that sound so I went back to the window and looked out again. I saw someone laying on the ground. There a n/m lying in the street between parked cars and there were other neighbors around the guy lying in the street. I ran to my telephone and called 911. Then I told my wife about it who was sleep in bed. Then I went outside to see what was going on. I got close enough to see that it was “Chunny”. Chunny lives in my block – I know the house but I don’t know the address. I saw something sticking out of his forehead. I guess it was the bullet. There was a host of neighbors there. Then the police cam and a rescue squad took Chunny to the hospital.
Q. What kind of guy is Chunny?
A. He's just a nice guy; we always had a nice conversation.
Q. How long have you know Chunny?
A. About 8 years
Q. When you look the first time is there any reason why you didn't see Chunny?
A. I looked and I'm telling you there was nothing there. For him to have ended up where he was, he must have been moved.
Q. Did you see anyone else in the vicinity of your house the first time you looked out?
A. No, but when I heard the shot and before I reached the window to look, I could hear someone running out front and it sounded like running toward Lansdowne Ave, but when I got to the window I didn't see anybody.
Q. Do you have anything to add?
A. No
Q. When did you last see Chunny prior to this incident?
A. About a month ago.
Q. Where did you see him?
A. On the block.
Q. You ever see Chunny argue or fight with anyone?
A. No
Q. Do you have any idea what Chunny was doing on the block at 2AM?
A. No, I don't have any ideal
Q. Do you know any of Chunny’s friends?
A. No, I don't know the crowd.
Detective G. Butler
Detective Rogers NODD 5/17/82
Received a phone call from a man who identified himself as Mr. Hill, who stated at about 2;15 AM he saw a man with a gun in his right hand wearing dark clothes running from Felton St into Media and get into a car, a 197?? W/blue PA license plate 434-404, with another person in the car.
Now from May 16th to May 18th 1982 Homer Lane was walking around the neighborhood with Chester Laws Sr. ("Tiger" herein out) trying to see if anybody knew anything about the shooting of his son. He wanted to nail somebody for this and my name was ringing. Tiger found in his associate Homer Lane a witness willing to lie under oath in court in order to make certain my conviction.
Be sure to watch the video Homer Lane made many years after my conviction retracting his testimony given here and at the trial and subsequent appeals.
Homer Lane 5/19/82
Mr. Lane, I am detective Lowery and I would like for you to go on in your own words and tell me what you know about the shooting death of Chester Laws.
A. I was on my top step getting ready to open the door to my house; I saw Chet walking by 1523 N. Felton; the next thing I saw was this guy jump out of the bushes. I saw this Joker, there is a walk way, like a little separation between the house and the gardening and the guy ran down the steps, by the time he got to the bottom step he shot Chet. I did not think he seen me, but there was a Light out There and I guess he did see me. After the shooting, he ran up the street and I ran into the house.
Q. What is the name of the man that you saw shoot Chet?
A. Carmen Woods
Q. What did you do after the shooting?
A. I went into the house, I was upset.
Q. Do you know if anyone beside yourself saw the shooting?
A. I don’t know, but I seen another boy out there at the time of the shooting. Name is Omar. Carmen Woods ran North after the shooting and that was in the direction where Omar was at. I had just came in and had seen Omar a couple of doors from his house and Chet came later. The next day this guy name is Clint, that is all that I know him by, but he lives on the 1600 block of Felton St., and he said that he was sitting on the steps of the Sepia Lounge, and he said that he saw a guy about his height, which is tall, light skin, lean and close hair cut. He said that this guy was running North on Felton across Lansdowne to the 1600 block of Felton St.
Q. Is there anyone else that you know that might have seen the shooting?
A. I heard Mr. Coleman saw the shooting, but I do not know for sure.
Q. Did you talk to the police before this?
A. Yes, they came door to door, but I told them that I did not know anything, because I did not want to get involved, and I thought that someone else might come forward.
Q. What is your reason for coming forward today?
A. Last night about 11:30 PM almost 12:PM, I was driving down Lansdowne Ave., going East toward 60th St. when I got to the intersection of Edgewood and Lansdowne, I saw a group of about: seven or eight guys. One of them said “what’s up” I am driving about ten miles an hour and one of the guys pulls out a gun and starts shooting. He shoots about six or seven times. Then Carmen Woods pulled out a gun shoots about three time. I kept driving, they hit my car at the driver’s side rear door, and my tire was busted, so I am assuming that they shot it also.
Q. Do you know the name of the guys that were shooting at you?
A. Michael Jones and Carmen Woods.
Q. Had you ever had any problems with these males before this?
A. No, never. I have been in the Navy and up until March, I have not been around there. I only know Michael Jones from seeing him in the area he had been around for about ten years, but he is younger than me and I had nothing to do with him. I know Carmen Woods from since he been burn, I went to school with his older sister, her name is Arlene, but I never had any problem with Carmen before. The only reason that I can give far this is that Carmen had to had seen me when he shot Chet. Monday after the shooting, Chet's father came up, and Carmen’s brother saw us talking.
Q. Mr. Lane I'm showing you 8 photographs that I would like for you to look at and let me know if you see the photograph of the man who shot Chester Laws?
A. This is him, this is Carmen Woods, photo 595609, photo signed and dated by Homer Lane.
Q Mr. Lane is there anything else that you can tell me about this shooting?
A. No, that is about it.
Q. Mr. Lane would you be willing to take a polygraph examination on the truthfulness of your Statement?
A. Sure.
Detective C. Lowery 5/19/82
Now Mr. Lowery knows Mr. Lane is lying and he knows what Omar Ancrum stated as opposed to what Lane is saying now about him. Also keep in mind that Homer Lane said the street lamp light was out in his statement.
On May 29, 1982 Detective Twynan re-interviewed Homer Lane. These detectives knew Homer Lane was lying because they knew Ellison and Ancrum was together the night of the shooting and they was not on the block at the time of the shooting.  
After scratching their heads the detectives would continue to question a witness they know to be lying.
Re-interview of Homer Lane 5/29/82
Q. Homer, prior to this shooting, where had you been?
A. I was walking from my cousin’s house in the 1600 block of Felton Street.
Q. While walking home, did you see Chester Laws Jr.?
A. Yes, I did
Q. Where did you see Chester and what was he doing?
A. I first noticed him when I got to my neighbor's 1516, he was walking down the street, I started to stop and wait for him, but I didn’t, he was at about 1531, by then.
Q. Did you see anyone else on the street as you walked home?
A. I saw this OMAR way up the block before; I got down to my house.
Q. Where was Omar and what was he doing?
A. The door to the house, 1545 was open. Omar was standing on the step talking to someone in the doorway; I don't know who that was.
Q. How well do you know Omar?
A. I've known him for at least 8 or 9 years.
Q. In your earlier statement, you said you saw "this joker" run down the steps and shoot Chester; who do you mean by that term "this joker"?
A. Carmen Woods
Q. Do you know Carmen Woods well?
A. Yes
Q. Do you know him well enough to recognize him at night, at a distance of more than fifty feet?
A. Yes, we got a Street Light Right There Though.
Q. Did you see Carmen Woods point a gun at Chester Laws?
A. Yes
Q. Did you see Carmen Woods fire this gun?
A. Yes
Q. After Carmen Woods fired his gun, what did Chester Laws do?
A. Fell down
Q. After Chester Laws fell down, what did Carmen Woods do?
A. Turned and ran
Q. In which direction did Carmen Woods Run?
A. North on Felton headed towards Lansdowne Ave.
Q. At the time this shot was fired, where were you and what were you doing?
A. I was on my top step getting ready to go in my door.
Q. From your position, could you tell what kind of gun Carmen Woods had?
A. Not really, it was loud.
Q. In which hand did Woods hold this gun?
A. In his right hand.
Q. Between the time you passed Omar standing at 1545 N. Felton and the firing of the shot at Chester Laws, how much time elapsed?
A. A few minutes
Q. Do you know if Omar was still on steps when Chester Laws walked by?
A. No, I don’t cause I didn’t even see Chet until I got to 1516, that was the first I notice him.
Q. Which direction was Chester Laws walking at the time of this shooting?
A. South on Felton
Q. On which side of the street?
A. The East side of the street.
This detective knows Homer Lane is lying. He has to work this out somehow in order to close the books on me.
Omar was not on the block.
Homer mentioned that the streetlight on the block was on to try and explain how he could have possibly seen me. In his May 19th statement he contradicted this by saying this same streetlight was out.
Detective Twynan needed to be sure that what Homer is saying is not true, so he re-interviewed Brian Ellison about the night of May 16, 1982.
Brian Ellison, May 30, 1982 – A day after re-interviewing Homer Lane
Q. On the night Chet was shot, did you see Carmen Woods
A. Yeah, he was at the bar, he was at Stacey’s. I seen him inside Stacey’s. I seen him get in his car and go up 60th St. as we was leaving, Me and Omar walked to 60th and Lansdowne and Carmen got in his car and drove up 60th towards Jefferson. Me and Omar walked down 60th to Media St. We were there for about 7 or 8 minutes, then we wlke to 62nd and Media and talked to a girl named Tracey McCloud, we talk to her and Antonio (Chinaman) for about 5 or 6 minutes, thenwe went into Felton St. Chet left about 2:AM and we left about 2:10 or 2:15 AM.
Detective Twynan
Brian Ellison just confirmed that Homer Lane was lying. Detective Twynan was not about to let this case go in that direction. He was going to go with Homer Lane's testimony in order to close the books on me.
Detective Twynan was not finished. Homer Lane mentioned to him about a guy named Clinton who said he saw a slim guy go pass him. Detective Twynan sought Mr. Clinton out. Keep in mind that Mr. Clinton was an old friend of Tiger (Chester Laws Sr.) with an interest in supporting Tiger's version of the story.
Clinton Garrison 6/2/82
Q. On 5/16/82 between 2 and 2:30 AM, were you near Lansdowne and Felton?
A. Yeah
Q. What can you tell me about this shooting?
A. I was sitting on the steps by the corner, right in front of the bar. I didn’t hear no shot, but I saw this tall thin, light skinned negro male about 18-21 come running from the 1500 block of Felton, on the East side of Felton St. and ran into 1600 block of Felton an turned East into the Alley, behind the bar. He wasn’t carrying nothing that I could see.
Q. Could you recognize this person?
A. I don’t know, I guess so.
Q. Have you ever seen this person before?
A. No
Q. Have you seen this person since the shooting?
A. No
Q. Did you know Chester Laws?
A. Yeah, I know him and his father.
Q. What time did you see the male running?
A. It was about ten or fifteen minutes after the bar closed.
Detective Twynan
Now this guy was probably drunk as a skunk. Tiger could have told him to say “he saw Dracula” and he would have said it.
My alibi on the night of the homicide was my presence at the Paradise Club after I left Stacey’s Bar.
Then Detective Twynan would interview the bouncer there named Jodie Washington on 6/2/82.
Jodie Washington 6/2/82
Q. Do you have any way of remembering the night of 5/15 into the morning of 5/16?
A. Yeah, Sgt Charlie Gaines came in about 3:10 AM and he said they had a shooting on the West end. About ten minutes later there was broadcast over his walkie talkie that the kid died. He had told us exactly where it happened, but I don’t remember now, it was somewhere around 62nd St.
Q. Do you know Carmen Woods?
A. Yeah, he comes in the club all the time, we didn’t know how old he was and we stopped him from coming in when we found out.
Q. Was Carmen Woods in the club this morning?
A. I know he wasn’t there when Sergeant Gaines came in and I don’t remember him being there that night.
Q. When you’re working what part of this club do you occupy?
A. The front door.
Q. Do you keep a sign in book?
A. Yeah,
Q. Do you know if Carmen Woods signed in that morning?
A. Right after this happened, one day last week, this girl came in and tried to get me to remember that night, she asked to see our book and I told her just like I’m telling you, that our book doesn’t show date or time and his name might be in there 20 different times.
Q. Do you know her this girl’s name?
A. No I just call her “Hun”
Q. What does this girl look like?
A. She’s short, light skinned, about 23, built thin and she wears her hair with waves in it.
Q. I’m showing you this package of 11 photos with numbers on the back, 542020, 515173, 581560, 520377, 594976, 506775, 448523, 563814, 595609, 513836 and 594974. I ask you is you know any of these people?
A. Yeah, I know them all. They all frequent the club, This one, 595609 is Carmen.
Q. Did you know Chester Laws, Jr.?
A. No
Q. Have you heard anything about the killing of Chester Laws?
A. All I heard is was that the dead boy was Tiger’s son. Tiger is the one who has the bar on Lancaster Ave.
Detective Twynan
At trial Clinton Garrison could not say if it was me or not. He just gave up the same info that was in his police statement. He was too drunk to have really known anything. Jodi Washington would come to court and say I could have been in the club because I’m in the club all the time. He was asked why he did not have the sign in book and he explained that after Detective Twynan checked the book out it was either destroyed or missing. This is a most interesting piece of critical missing evidence, evidence held by Dectictive Twynan that could have supported my innocent, evidence destroyed and suppressed from the eyes of the jury.
I wanted my lawyer to call Teech Burton as a witness. She worked the door of the club with Jodi. She knew I was there at the time of the murder. My lawyer failed to call this witness. This missing witness to my innocence was also part of my unsuccessful appeal.
At trial Homer Lane was asked about when he came in on the block prior to the shooting of Chester Laws Jr. He was asked who he saw. I will quote this part of the questioning: The DA is asking Homer Lane these questions:
Q. Now, as you were walking toward your house on the West side of Felton in the 1500 block of North Felton, did you see any other persons on the street?
A. Yes, Sir.
Q. At what point while you were walking did you see any other person on the street?
A. Well, when I was at the northern end of the bloc at, near Lansdowne, I saw a couple of people at 1545, the door was open.
Q. How about when you got into the 1500 block, your own block, did you see anybody on the street as you walked up your own sidewalk?
A. That is where I saw a couple of people at 1545 that is up the street.
Q. How about on your own block, coming toward your house, at that time did you see anyone else?
A. I saw Chester Laws.
This is why I know the DA knew about these statements. He did not want Homer to talk about the people he saw at 1545 North Felton Street because this would expose Homer Lane's lies. The DA was emphatic about getting away from this testimony.
My Lawyer or co-defendant’s lawyer did not catch this crucial admission of Homer Lane.
The DA knew the truth but covered it up and I really believe he held these statements back from my trial lawyer.
On the other hand if my trial lawyer had these statements and never used them then he was beyond incompetent. Either way this was a travesty of Justice
In each statement you will see Detective Twynan played a major role in these interviews. Dectictive Twynan knew Homer Lane was lying but a quick and easy arrest for his buddy Tiger was far more important then uncovering the truth. The DA needed a fast conviction by any means necessary.
I would be the sacrificial lamb.
DETECTIVES AND WHO THEY INTERVIEWED
SUMMARIZED WITH DATES:
Alfimo - Nellie Lane 5/16/82
Alfimo - Homer. Lane 5/16/82
Cleary - Brian Ellison 5/16/82
Twynan - Omar Ancrum 5/16/82
G. Butler – Dwight Logan 5/16/82
Det. Rogers spoke with Twynan about Mr. Hill statement on 5/17/82
C. Lowery – Homer Lane 5/19/82
Twynan – Homer Lane 5/29/82
Twynan – Brian Ellison 5/20/83
Twynan – Clinton Garrison 6/2/82
Twynan – Jodi Washington 6/2/82
NEW EYEWITNESS APPEARS 25 YEARS AFTER THE TRIAL
We (the Woods family) have had a young man named Gary Hawes come forth and say he did not know I was convicted of this crime. He says could say with certainty that it was not me whom he saw run from the scene after the shot was fired. He also tells us that the man who ran was short and ran into Media Street.
This corroborates what Mr. Hill stated to Detective Rogers and that Dectective Twyman knew about Mr. Hill. Nobody knew about eyewitness Gary Hawes until he came forth 25 years later.
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