PHOENIX - A man once charged in freeway shootings during the summer of 2015 has asked a judge in his now-dismissed criminal case to issue an unusual order declaring he was cleared of wrongdoing.
An attorney for Leslie Merritt Jr. says a declaration of clearance would help him heal from the psychological effects of his arrest.
It’s unknown whether Merritt wants to use such a court order at the upcoming trial in his false-arrest lawsuit against the state and Arizona Department of Public Safety employees.
Prosecutors have asked the judge to hold off on ruling on Merritt’s request until his lawsuit concludes.
