Visible crew/equipment: When Phoenix falls through the glass at the museum into the LA exhibit, you can see him sliding down a safety rope. His feet are even in the position to be sliding down the rope. (00:49:15)
Visible crew/equipment: This is during the firefight in the makeshift restaurant down in the sewer. When John Spartan grabs the table to use as a shield, you can see the cable going with the table that is used to set off the sparks for the bullet contacts. (01:28:45)
Answer: Spartan didn't have authorization to go in and apprehend Phoenix to begin with. Depending on the time and manner of deaths of the hostages, it may have been impossible for the authorities to determine that they were already dead before Spartan went in guns blazing, so it would be determined that he was criminally negligent in their deaths. Whatever Phoenix had to say on the matter probably didn't even factor into Spartan's trial.
Phaneron ★