NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The man accused of killing Newport News Police Officer Katie Thyne waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Vernon Green had a felony homicide charge amended to second-degree murder. Marijuana and eluding police charges against Green were “nolle prossed”—or dismissed. Charges nolle prossed typically can be refiled later.
Green was sentenced last month to 10 years in prison on federal gun and drug charges related to the traffic stop that led to Officer Thyne's death last year. He pleaded guilty in October 2020 to possession of a firearm and felony possession of a controlled substance.
Officer Thyne was killed after responding to a call about two people smoking marijuana in a car near the Monitor Merrimac Overlook area on Jan. 23, 2020. Green and a woman were in the car.
The incident turned deadly when Green refused to follow officers' orders, hit the gas and tried to take off from the scene. Thyne was right by the driver's side window and Green ended up dragging her with the car. She died after the car crashed into a tree.
Police searched the car later and found some marijuana and a firearm. The magazine had Green's fingerprint on it. Green admitted to investigators that he was previously convicted of a felony and wasn't supposed to have a weapon.
Green is back in court on June 14, 2021, before a grand jury.