Charges Dismissed Against Ex-Officer Who Shot Driver

Charges against a former Long Beach police officer accused of shooting a motorist during a traffic dispute were dismissed this week after a second jury declared itself deadlocked.

Alan B. Ice, 47, of Fountain Valley shot and wounded Neil Cramer of Santa Ana in September, 1991. Ice claimed the shooting of the 37-year-old carpenter was accidental, but prosecutors charged that Ice fired his weapon in a fit of anger.

Defense attorney John D. Barnett said his client is pleased that the case is over. Ice, who because of the shooting was fired after 21 years with the police force, is now appealing that termination, Barnett said.

“He is greatly relieved,” Barnett said outside the Santa Ana courtroom as Ice stood with his wife and four daughters, who wept with joy. “It was just a hard case to try.”

Jurors in Ice’s first trial in October also failed to reach a verdict. Many jurors in that trial said afterward they doubted that 12 people would ever agree on a verdict.

That prediction came true Tuesday when the second jury deadlocked 6 to 6 and told the judge that further deliberations would be fruitless.

Shortly before declaring a mistrial and dismissing charges, Orange County Superior Court Judge John M. Watson asked whether there was any chance of a unanimous verdict.

“I don’t think there is any reasonable possibility, your honor,” said Sheila Muldoon, a Newport Beach attorney who was forewoman for the jury. Outside the courtroom, she added: “There was just no way to get all 12 to agree. We did the best we could.”

Watson said he would dismiss charges against Ice “in the interest of justice.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Clyde P. Von Der Ahe conceded that it would be difficult to get a verdict in a third trial and did not object to the judge’s decision. Von Der Ahe could not be reached later for comment.

Ice was charged with felony assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Cramer was shot in the shoulder after exchanging angry words and obscene hand gestures with Ice at a Fountain Valley stoplight. He has recovered from his injuries.