DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Former Dallas Police Officer Brian Riser was released from jail on Wednesday, but is still under investigation in two murder cases.
Riser was arrested last month after being named a person of interest in two alleged murder for hire cases in 2019. He was released from the Dallas County jail after a Judge ruled during an examining trial that there wasn’t probable cause to hold him.
“Anyone with half a brain would not go forward with this case based on the evidence that was brought forth,” Riser’s attorney, Toby Shook, said.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office alerted the defense team and the judge of its opinion that there currently is insufficient corroboration of co-defendant statements and accomplice testimony to prosecute the case.
“We have an obligation — under the U.S Constitution, under the Texas Constitution, under the Code of Criminal Procedure, under our duty as prosecutors — to see that justice is done. If we get to a point in any case, no matter who the defendant is, no matter who the witnesses are, that we feel there is insufficient probable cause, we have to alert the defense and alert the court,” said Dallas County Prosecutor Jason Fine. “We have to do something. We can’t just sit by.”
The Dallas Police Department said Wednesday that it respects the Judge’s decision.
“However, it is important to note that investigators followed the legal process and presented two probable cause affidavits to a Dallas County District judge for review, and sufficient probable cause was found,” a statement from the department said. “The detectives assigned to this investigation are committed to seeing justice.”
The department noted that Riser’s termination was not based solely on the criminal investigation but also for administrative violations.
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