25September 2020
Jury finds Dalquavis Ward guilty of killing Racine Police Officer John Hetland
Ward was found guilty of: first-degree deliberate homicide, heist, and possession of a gun by a felon.
RACINE, Wis. – A jury found Dalquavis Ward guilty on Friday, Sept. 25 in connection to the killing off-duty Racine Police Officer John Hetland during a tried break-in at Teezers Bar on June 17, 2019.
Ward was condemned of: first-degree deliberate homicide, armed robbery, and belongings of a firearm by a felon.
The jury pondered for approximately one-and-a-half hours prior to delivering the decision.
After the verdict was revealed, lights flashed red and blue off of the Racine County Courthouse. Lots of officers lined up to show assistance for Hetland's family as they left of the courthouse in tears.
The family of John Hetland leaves the Racine County Courthouse after a jury discovered Dalquavis Ward guilty in the Racine policeman's 2019 killing
Final day of trial
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For some, it was a surprise when the 27-year-old Ward took the stand in his own defense. In his statement, Ward kept that he had no involvement in the crimes he is implicated of.
Prosecutors stated that DNA gathered from Hetland's body ties Ward to the criminal activity. Ward stated he was at a birthday celebration with household earlier in the day.
Dalquavis Ward testifies at trial, accused of killing off-duty Racine Police Officer John Hetland
“We after that, smoked weed, and simply stayed there the remainder of the night,” Ward said on Friday.
The prosecution chose apart his history of heists.
“From 18 to 20, you had 4 circumstances where you took genuine guns and pointed it at clerks here in the City of Racine, didn't you,” Prosecutor Michael Graveley said, to which Ward replied “right.”
Officer John Hetland, Teezers Bar
Graveley provided and read rap lyrics that Ward composed, centered around violence, which read in part: “If a cop ever tries to stop me, we are going to shoot out 'til I'm dead.”
Asked if Hetland tried to stop him on June 17, 2019, Ward replied: “That wasn't me, sir.”
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Both sides brought emotional closing arguments at the Racine County Courthouse on Friday.
Friday marked the fifth and last day of the trial.
Ward is set up to be sentenced in early December.