cleveland

71 Arrested During Last Night’s Protests Over Cleveland Cop’s Acquittal

Cleveland Police Shooting
Photo: Tony Dejak/AP/� Corbis. All Rights Reserved.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Cleveland yesterday to protest the acquittal of a police officer who prosecutors had charged with voluntary manslaughter over the deaths of an unarmed black couple. Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams announced today that in response to growing aggression amid the protests last night, police had made 71 arrests on charges of aggravated rioting and obstruction of justice. Yesterday, a judge ruled that Officer Michael Brelo was not guilty of voluntary manslaughter or felonious assault related to the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, who were shot by police at the end of long car chase in November 2012. Officers had fired 137 times at the couple’s car, 49 shots of which came from Officer Brelo. No weapons were found on the couple, and prosecutors argued that Brelo had deliberately fired the fatal rounds at near point-blank rage after climbing onto the hood of their vehicle.

In Judge John P. O’Donnell’s explanation of his ruling on the case, he said there was no evidence that Brelo was solely responsible for the couple’s deaths, as their fatal bullet wounds came from multiple directions and only a few of those bullets could have come from Brelo. Regarding why Brelo was not guilty of assault, the judge indicated that the officer’s fear for his life justified his actions. Brelo still faces administrative charges from the Cleveland Police Department and remains suspended without pay. The U.S. Department of Justice is now launching their own investigation into the case as well.

In the meantime, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that dozens of area churches are planning a large protest on Tuesday in response to the ruling. Regarding that effort, local reverend Jawanza K. Colvin told his congregation this morning, “We need people that are willing to march, not just to talk, not just to Tweet, not just to text, we need people that are willing to march. We are going to walk in the middle of the streets. We are going to draw attention to what needs to happen in this city.” Reverend Al Sharpton will be at another rally planned for Friday night. The city is also still anxiously awaiting a decision as to whether charges will be filed against another police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice last fall.

71 Arrested During Cleveland Protests Last Night