Family, Friends Protest Death Of Nowata Man Killed By OHP Trooper

Protests marked the anniversary Tuesday of the shooting of a Nowata County man by a state trooper. The district attorney's report says Trooper Jerrod Martin was justified in firing at Joshua Stand after he took a step at the trooper with a knife in his hand.

The Delaware man's family and friends protest that finding. They say the reason they protested in front of the Washington County Courthouse is to promote awareness.

"We knew as a family we had to do something for Josh because without us he has no face, he has no voice and he has no road to justice, this is for our family," said Stella Stand, Joshua's aunt.

Lorie Bell and Stella Stand joined more than 25 protesters at this rally across from the district attorney's office.

Last August, Nowata District Attorney Kevin Buchanan cleared Trooper Jerrod Martin of any wrongdoing after he shot and killed Joshua Stand during a chase into the small town of Delaware.

The DA's report said Stand took a step at Trooper Martin while holding a knife.

8/8/2014 Related Story: Nowata DA Clears OHP Trooper Who Shot Man 9 Times

An autopsy shows Stand was shot nine times - three of those in the back - and was high on meth at the time of the shooting. After spending nearly two months on leave, Trooper Martin was cleared to return to duty.

The Stand family still wants to hear from the District Attorney's office even a year after his findings were released.

"We want to be treated fairly we want the same treatment by the District Attorney that they're offering the law enforcement," his aunt said.

They hope today's protest will bring attention to Stand's story.

"I'm telling you he was just a kind, sweet, loving person," said his Aunt Lorie Bell. "I mean regardless, he loved his family."

"He just loved the cousins. He was an outdoorsman. He had his issues, and he was working on those, but he was never violent," said Stella Stand, aunt.

Moving forward, the Stand family wants to make sure the Highway Patrol and its troopers have all the tools available to them including body cams and tasers.