Seven Richmond residents to stand trial in racial confrontation with Police

Seven people are scheduled to go on trial this week for their roles a May 30 altercation outside a nightclub that has strained relations between black residents and city police. Police say the incident began outside the Magic Moments club when two men ran from officers. Police had come to the scene to clear vehicles blocking Orange Street in a predominantly black section of Richmond. One of the men was identified as Larry E. Sims Jr., 19. He and another man got into a sport utility vehicle owned by Natasha Miller, Sims' girlfriend. Miller was body-slammed by a Richmond police officer after a gun had fallen out of her boyfriend's clothing. Angry bystanders, some of whom were leaving a nightclub down the street, were pepper-sprayed by police, and seven people were arrested. In the six months since the incident, there have been protests at city hall, forums held to discuss racial issues, indirect apologies, mediation from the U.S. Department of Justice and an FBI investigation. Both police officials and residents expect the charges to be dropped before trial. But even as a deal neared completion last week, some residents said relations with the department had not improved. [more]