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CHESAPEAKE — A Norfolk police officer charged with killing a man while off duty earlier this year in Chesapeake will be allowed out of jail on bond, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Circuit Judge Rufus Banks Jr. set a $50,000 surety bond for Edmund Hoyt, who is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the January shooting death of 42-year-old Kelvin White. A General District Court judge previously granted bond for Hoyt, but the prosecutor appealed that to Circuit Court.
White was shot Jan. 19 about a third of a mile from his home in South Norfolk. According to prosecutors, Hoyt’s wife said she was pushing their children in a stroller toward a Food Lion off Bainbridge Boulevard in the afternoon when White, who was schizophrenic, confronted her and told her she couldn’t pass him on the sidewalk.
Hoyt’s wife told him she had mace and wasn’t afraid to use it; White said he had a knife and would stab her, although he didn’t take out a knife, prosecutor D.J. Hansen said. The wife said her husband was a police officer, and White said he’d stab him, too, Hansen said.
The prosecutor said Hoyt’s wife called her husband instead of 911.
Hoyt drove there in his truck, pulling into a dirt alley, Hansen said. He didn’t see a knife on White at the time, Hansen said. Hoyt identified himself as an officer, pulled out a personal gun and told White to get on the ground, the prosecutor said. Hoyt was not in uniform.
White refused, and Hoyt re-holstered his gun and went “hands on” with White, the prosecutor said, using Hoyt’s words. Hoyt was scratched in the face, and White took out a butter or cheese knife.
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Hansen said Hoyt backed up to create distance and fired six shots, three of them hitting White and three others striking his backpack. Hoyt told his wife to call 911, Hansen said.
In arguing for bond, Hoyt’s lawyer, James Broccoletti, said his client has continued with the Norfolk Police Department, on administrative duty, since the shooting and is not a danger to others or at risk of fleeing.
Hansen said the case wasn’t self-defense. There was no reason for Hoyt to go “hands-on” with White, he said: “He made the decision, and it cost Mr. White his life.”
Both the prosecutor and Hoyt’s defense lawyer said White had prior incidents with other neighbors. White’s family has said he wasn’t violent and likely would have complied with police if he knew the person was an officer.
Under the terms of his bond, Hoyt can’t have a firearm, drink alcohol or take drugs. He cannot leave the state without the court’s permission and must keep a job. Hoyt has been a Norfolk police officer for two years.
Hoyt and his wife surrendered their passports to the court Wednesday.
Margaret Matray, 757-222-5216, margaret.matray@pilotonline.com