Thousands protest after police cleared In killing unarmed couple

A Cleveland police officer was found not guilty on Saturday in the shooting deaths of an unarmed couple after a high-speed car chase in 2012.

Unarmed couple killed by police

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John O’Donnell ruled that Michael Brelo was within his constitutional rights when he shot and killed 43-year old Timothy Russell and 30 year old Malissa Williams, both of whom were unarmed on that fateful night back in 2012.

Officer acquittal

The acquittal has sparked outrage as the officer shot 15 bullets into the car of an unarmed couple.  This was in addition to a series of  137 bullets shot by other officers who were on the scene as well.

In a 34-page summary, the judge said that he felt that “Brelo’s entire use of deadly force was a constitutionally reasonable response to an objectively reasonably perceived threat of great bodily harm from the occupants of the Malibu, Russell and Williams.”

Unarmed couple killed protests

Protesters took to Cleveland streets on Saturday night as police patrolled in riot gear.

Yourblackworld reports:

The incident occurred as the couple’s car backfired while driving past police headquarters. This led police to believe that the couple had a gun. There were a total of 13 officers firing at the car after the chase, but Brelo was the only one who faced criminal charges.  According to prosecutors, the couple was no longer a threat when the officer jumped onto the hood of the car and fired 15 additional shots at the couple.

Both Russell and Williams were shot over 20 times a piece.

After the verdict was announced, the United States Justice Department said that it will conduct an investigation into the incident.

Protesters have gathered around the city, and even NBA star LeBron James asked for calm after the incident.   They also stopped traffic during one gathering.

Mayor Frank Jackson made an announcement after the verdict that praised the city for remaining calm. “While we encourage peaceful protest, I want to make sure that those who are here who have a different agenda understand that actions that cross the line — either by police officers or citizens — cannot and will not be tolerated,” he said.

The shooting occurs right after a Justice Department investigation revealed that the police department had been engaging in a pattern of excessive force against citizens of the city.

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“Unfortunately, troubled police-community relations has plagued Cleveland for decades as a result of the excessive use of force by law enforcement, particularly against people of color,” said Christine Link, executive director of the ACLU. “We urge the city of Cleveland to diligently work to create a police department that its citizens can trust. This will only happen if its officers are properly trained and supervised to keep everyone safe.”