Trayvon Martin lead investigator wanted George Zimmerman arrested the night of the fatal shooting

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

DOJ opens probe into Trayvon Martin shooting

George Zimmerman (left), Trayvon Martin (right)

/ AP/Personal Photo

(CBS) SANFORD, Fla. - The lead investigator probing the deadly shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin wanted neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman arrested and charged with manslaughter the night of the shooting, ABC News reports.

Photos: Trayvon Martin

Investigator Chris Serino of the Sanford, Fla. Police Department wanted the 28-year-old Zimmerman behind bars, but the state Attorney's Office said there was not enough evidence to lead to a conviction, sources told ABC.

The New York Daily News reports Serino was uncertain of Zimmerman's account of how the Feb. 26 incident with Martin played out.

Police brought Zimmerman into the station for questioning for a few hours on the night of the shooting, said Zimmerman's attorney, even though he had requested medical attention first.

The police report noted Zimmerman was "bleeding from the nose and the back of the head."

CBS News reports that the next day, detectives re-enacted the shooting with Zimmerman at the scene. They also discovered Zimmerman had two prior arrests: one for assaulting a cop, the other for domestic abuse.

For the next two weeks, lead investigator Serino pursued a manslaughter charge against Zimmerman.

"Had the roles been reversed, Trayvon would have been treated differently because he was black?," CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassman asked lawyer Ben Crump, who represents the teenager's parents

"Absolutely," said Crump. "No question to me or anybody else in America. Had Trayvon had been the person who pulled the trigger, he would have been arrested that day on the spot and would still be sitting in jail."

Complete coverage of the Trayvon Martin case on Crimesider

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Fla. teen Trayvon Martin killed by neighborhood watch volunteer

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by mzindependent27 April 2, 2012 12:44 PM EDT: Obama haters. . . He only responded to a question asked by a reporter he didnt hold a press conference for Trayvon. He only stated his feelings as a man, just because he is president doesnt mean he doesnt have an opinion or feelings. Trayvon's parents fought for this to go as far as it has gone. So if you feel like he should be speaking on other situtations thats happening around the world do something to make it public, get involved and stop hiding behind your keyboards with all the racist comments. From all the comments here we see that racism, prejudice and hate still is here in America. All of you'll prejudice hypocrties need to find something better to do because its 2012 and we are still going to succeed regardless of how you feel. You all started the whipping, hanging, torturing, killing, and so on, but now that another race does it you have a problem . . .get real.; Reply to this comment


by mzindependent27 April 2, 2012 12:32 PM EDT: The media and the people are always going to have their opinions, which is fine but all races commit crimes. The whites tortured, nurdered, and mistreated African Americans for a long time. Being a young African American woman I have experienced the hate they have for us. At my job when members come in, they'd rather see one of their kind than me. They just assume I am incompetenet and hate to see us succeed. In regards to Trayvon, if I were his parents I would have took it this far too. Because there are unanswered questions as to what happened that night and for someone to kill a teen and not get arrested is unheard of. If it was the other way aroung I can bet you that Trayvon would be on death row just because they label our young men as thugs, without giving them a fair chance in society. Each race has their own bad seeds, and George Zimmerman is one of them who thinks he can get away with it but not this time George, you messed with the wrong family. How can A grown man not defend his self from a teen? Come on now lets be realistic!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by eli513 March 30, 2012 4:35 PM EDT: It's funny when I read some of the comments being written on here. But it is truly sad and heartbreaking that some people feel a certain way. I had to login just to say a couple of things. This shooting is a tragedy. Both sides must agree. One person lost a life, tragic no? The person that lost their life was not threatening anyone's life. He was unarmed and walking. He wasn't scoping out someone's property. He wasn't walking down the street holding a shotgun in his hand. He was just strolling along. IF HE WAS BLACK, WHITE, CHINESE, INDIAN, ARAB, KOREAN, JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, RUSSIAN, ITALIAN, MUSLIM, HINDU, BUDDHIST, IRAQI, SUDANESE AND ANY OTHER RACE, CULTURE, RELIGION AND/OR NATIONALITY IT IS STILL TRAGIC. A human being died. If it were anybody's son, daughter, brother, sister, etc. they would be devastated. What is sad also is when people say these people kill those people but when those people kill each other and those people over there are this......................that is outrageous thinking. Every human group in history killed on massive scales. Even today there are shootings, beatings and all kinds of violent acts committed by EVERYBODY....NOBODY IS EXEMPT (UNLESS YOU ARE NOT HUMAN). When people say this certain group always does this certain kind of behavior I want that person to look into that groups history. Then see what kind of behavior that group received. What opportunities did this group have more than that group? We weren't zapped here yesterday. There is a cause and effect for everything. We all have a history. A kid died. That's it. No Good. That's all I have to say. Thank you.; Reply to this comment


by lynita41 March 30, 2012 2:48 PM EDT: zimmerman was told not to follow. get it do not follow. he went looking for trouble. had he stay in his car like the cops said this would not have happened.if someone was following you that was not the police. you would have been scared and ready to do what ever to get away. stop making it look like trayvon was the bad guy. zimmerman followed him. fact fact fact. what would you do if someone was following you.stop trying to play like yall dont know the facts. zimmerman should be arrested!!!; Reply to this comment


by lynita41 March 30, 2012 2:31 PM EDT: key words. zimmerman called police 47 times, every time about a black black black male. need i say more. racial profiling. it is what it is. the video after the shooting shows that zimmerman didnt have a scratch on him. his witness is a liar. another key word trayvon was on the phone with his girl friend the whole time.they have the recording of the call. stop trying to ignore to facts.; Reply to this comment


by dresia March 30, 2012 1:54 PM EDT: And let me also add, the father needs to stay out of it. He wasn't there to see what happened. Yeah, I understand, that's your son and you will defend him but your son, Mr. Senior Zimmerman was wrong for confronting this kid who was minding his own business until your killer son, saw an opportunity to rid one more coon since he's sick of them getting away with things. Your son Mr. Zimmerman, is a killer in cold blood and he will pay one way or another. This case will not rest by a long shot. This is world news and your son's head is on the chopping block.; Reply to this comment


by morris2196 March 30, 2012 12:46 PM EDT: I don't know who threw the first punch, or the legal significance of that. Regardless, it seems to me that Zimmerman bears some moral responsibility for Trayvon's death. I say that because Zimmerman had no valid reason for questioning or confronting Trayvon, and had he not done so, Trayvon would be alive today.; Reply to this comment

by Overruled1 March 29, 2012 3:26 PM EDT

Florida, nice place to visit.....

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by a224 March 29, 2012 5:14 PM EDT: sick of the lies? We Support George Zimmerman! Join us!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/214278835353886/


by dresia March 29, 2012 10:08 AM EDT: Racial profiling is wrong. Bringing up Martin's past is wrong. Bringing up the past doesn't solve or set Zimmerman free. He is guilty of murder on an unarmed boy. What does Martin's past have to do with his shooting for walking in a neighborhood he had no business in according to Zimmerman. Martin is the victim here, not Zimmerman. For anyone to believe Zimmerman is the victim here is blind as a bat. No one is prefect. We all have had flaws in our lives and still continue to have them. People need to stop trying to find excuses to set Zimmerman free by digging in the past of the deceased and making him out to be the bad guy. JUST STOP IT. Martin's past has nothing to do with him being shot to death just because he wore a hooded jacket and being black made it worst, all the more reason to shoot that boy to death. I'm so sorry he didn't survive. I wonder if the boy had been white and wearing a hooded jacket, would Zimmerman had followed him, made a racial slur, pursued him like he did Martin, and start an altercation like he did with Martin just to cause a fight and that would give him prefect reason to shoot the (those coons always get away with things)? The answer, no, but yet the black kid was shot to death. Not everyone in a hood are robbers, killers, and rapist. People have the right to wear hoods and there shouldn't be some law saying they can't now because of misunderstand profiling. Zimmerman will pay one way or another. This isn't over by a long shot.; Reply to this comment

by joannek83 March 29, 2012 7:05 AM EDT

We should not be having a conversation on a national level about the Travvon Martin incident. It should be handled within the local jurisdiction.
People keep talking about "if the roles were reversed". If the roles were reversed, we wouldn't be having the conversation ...because people don't care when a white person is killed by a black person. White people do not march and have rallies protesting blacks. Not because...the "black person would be arrested and put in jail". Because the white person being killed would not be as hysterically inflammatory as a black person being killed by a white person. Lets just say it like it is. The news media won't even name the race of the criminal if it is black on white crime.

Here is the conversation we should be having. America has gone crazy. The gangs of young black males terrorizing our cities is disgraceful and out of control. It is sad for everyone. It is a disgrace to the black race that they blame everyone but that minority within their minority for the 100% legitimate stereotype used by smart people to protect themselves. Those black teenagers that roam in gangs and target whites to attack, rob, beat and often kill are the responsible parties for ruining the peace. Get a hold on these kids. Clamp down. They are not only ruining their own lives, and that is sad, but they are a threat to our peaceful society.
Stereotypes are necessary. I will never casually walk past a group of young black teenagers in the city. Not after all the recent videos of people doing just that ... especially in Philadelphia...and the video shows the kids...pummeling white men who go to walk by without "showing prejudice" or "fear of a stereotype" by crossing the street. Those kids are the disgrace, not "us white people".
Here is the real problem. Whites are too sensitive to being racially or politically correct. Blacks sure as hell aren't, so why do "we" have no real right to complain while "they" do? Whites don't march on Washington when gangs of young black teens go around targeting whites men to beat and rob. Let's keep saying it. Whites, whites, whites. Blacks, blacks, blacks. "They" can say it. Why can't "we".
Show me a video of gangs of whites going around cities in the recent months and last couple years and jumping black men and women, as there are a plethora of videos of black teenagers doing to whites. It just does NOT happen. Or, if it does, "Show me the video". What all the whites beaten outside of the Wisconsin state fair by vicious black punks. A punk is a punk. If they were white...doing that? Show me a white riot. "Show me the video!!!!!"

Deal with the real problem. Get these kids back in their homes, if they have them. If they don't have proper homes with decent people for parents, who will raise them with respect for life, respect for themselves and common decency.... well then...take them in. Get those parents off their ***** to raise decent people.
This whole thing going on today in America is insane and has gotten way, way, way out of control.

By the way, please refer to me as a European American. African American, Asian American...European American. Or we can all be Americans. Acting live civil Americans. All of us, not just we European Americans(whites) share the responsibility for a civil society free from fear.

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by lynnknows March 29, 2012 10:43 PM EDT: "They" can say it. Why can't "we".
Show me a video of gangs of whites going around cities in the recent months and last couple years and jumping black men and women,"

I am a living video of this. A few years ago I was with my dad on a trip to Maryland. We went to drop his friend of after a trip to VA. While at her house I went outside with her daughter and was jumped my at least 20 white kids and TWO PARENTS !!!!!! I was a kid that went out to play. I was minding my business and within 10 mins of being outside greeted with "****** what are you doing here?, You better leave!, ****** are not allowed here, and more. Thhey threw rocks at me, the pushed me, kicked me, and hit me. When I saw some adults walking towards me I thought I was going to be saved, but THEY JOINED IN.....OTHERS JUST STOOD ON THEIR STEPS. NO one helped me until my dad and his friend came and took me in the house.
This was just 4 yrs ago. This county is full of hate for people that look and act differently than us. Its not only a white on black things this things goes across the board. Its Muslims, Gays, Blacks, Asians, Lations.....
We need to wake up and open our eyes to the truth. If we keep thinking "its not us" then nothing will ever change. How about that Muslim woman that got beaten to death in her home???? She dies becasue she was Muslim. She didnt hurt anyone. For the record. ...the profile of the people they are looking for are not a gang of black people........ SO dont think ONLY black people jump, hurt and kill people, becasue that is not true........


by lynnknows March 29, 2012 10:44 PM EDT: "They" can say it. Why can't "we".
Show me a video of gangs of whites going around cities in the recent months and last couple years and jumping black men and women,"

I am a living video of this. A few years ago I was with my dad on a trip to Maryland. We went to drop his friend of after a trip to VA. While at her house I went outside with her daughter and was jumped my at least 20 white kids and TWO PARENTS !!!!!! I was a kid that went out to play. I was minding my business and within 10 mins of being outside greeted with "****** what are you doing here?, You better leave!, ****** are not allowed here, and more. Thhey threw rocks at me, the pushed me, kicked me, and hit me. When I saw some adults walking towards me I thought I was going to be saved, but THEY JOINED IN.....OTHERS JUST STOOD ON THEIR STEPS. NO one helped me until my dad and his friend came and took me in the house.
This was just 4 yrs ago. This county is full of hate for people that look and act differently than us. Its not only a white on black things this things goes across the board. Its Muslims, Gays, Blacks, Asians, Lations.....
We need to wake up and open our eyes to the truth. If we keep thinking "its not us" then nothing will ever change. How about that Muslim woman that got beaten to death in her home???? She dies becasue she was Muslim. She didnt hurt anyone. For the record. ...the profile of the people they are looking for are not a gang of black people........ SO dont think ONLY black people jump, hurt and kill people, becasue that is not true........