White Ohio Attorney General Confused About Whether Cleveland Police Used Excessive Force when they Shot Unarmed Black Man & Woman 137 Times

From [HERE] Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine (white man in photo) is asking for the public’s help in the investigation involving 13 Cleveland police officers who fired 137 rounds into a car driven by Timothy Russell last week.

Russell, 43 yr. old Black man, was killed along with Malissa Williams, 30 yr. old Black woman, after the two lead police on a nearly 25-minute chase from Cleveland to East Cleveland. An officer along with another woman claimed they heard a shot being fired and believed it came from the car Russell was driving. The car had a bad muffler. 

“Our BCI experts will aggressively and fairly piece together the facts from the evidence," DeWine said. “Some of those facts may come from witnesses who haven't yet come forward to share what they know. I encourage anyone who thinks they might have some information that could help call the Attorney General's BCI."

Eighteen BCI staff members, including 16 agents, have been dedicated solely to this case. The AG's office said witnesses are being interviewed; they are reviewing video camera footage, and processing evidence. The information, when complete, will be turned into newly-elected Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty's office.

New video released from the day of the shooting does not show much. It was taped sometime between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Nov. 29. It shows an officer pulling up on in front of a building on St. Clair Avenue and talking with someone. Moments later the officer is seen rushing to his cruiser then pulling a U-turn. East Cleveland police said there was not a gun in Russell’s car. They also did not find any shell cases.

Gun-shot residue tests have not been released. DeWine's office would not say if the test was completed.

The investigation will answer if they officers involved used excessive force.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson had new rules put in place in 2006. Just before he took office, there were five police officer-involved shootings, with four resulting in death.

The policy states, "Officers shall not unreasonably place themselves in a position where a threat of imminent danger or death or physical injury is created when attempting to stop a motor vehicle or apprehend a felony suspect."

Whether the officers involved violated that policy is yet to be determined.

"So even if it's determined you are justified because your life was in danger, that don't mean that you're getting of scott-free," Jackson said.

Comments

[LaToya S]

This is so ridiculous! Why in the world would these fools mess with this African-American Attorney General and woman? They seemed to have nothing better else to do but mess with innocent people. And if those officers violated that policy, they shouldn't be in the police force in the first place.