Current, ex-Louisville police officers arrested on charges in connection with Breonna Taylor death

Four current or ex-Louisville police officers were arrested and charged Thursday on multiple charges in connection with the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor – including ones related to alleged civil rights offenses.

Former officers Kelly Goodlett, Brett Hankison and Joshua Jaynes along with Sgt. Kyle Meany, who is still a member of the Louisville Metro Police Department, were charged with unlawful conspiracies, unconstitutional use of force and obstruction offenses, Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference.

They allegedly submitted a false affidavit to search Taylor's home, then worked collectively to create a cover story to avoid responsibility for their roles in preparing the warrant affidavit that included false information, Garland also said.

Taylor, a 26-year-old female, was fatally in March 2020 by Louisville officers who had knocked down her door while executing the search warrant. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot that hit one of the officers as they came through the door and they returned fire, striking Taylor multiple times, according to the Associated Press. 

Hankison, who was dismissed from the department two years ago, was one of the officers at Taylor’s door and one of three who fired shots that night. He was acquitted by a jury of state charges of wanton endangerment earlier this year in Louisville.

Jaynes had applied for the warrant to search Taylor’s house. He was fired in 2021 for violating department standards in preparing the search warrant execution and being "untruthful" in the warrant, the wire service also reports.