Cleveland Police Officer Michael Brelo Found Not Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter in Shooting Deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams (VIDEO)

NOT GUILTY …

Cuyahoga County Judge John P. O’Donnell has reached the following verdict … 31 year old police officer Michael Brelo has been found not guilty of voluntary manslaughter and a lesser charge of felonious assault in the shooting deaths of two unarmed passengers, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. The shooting took place following the November 29, 2012 police chase.  The not guilty verdict may have ramifications as one again we are presented with a volatile situation as a white police officer killed two black individuals. Hopefully calm will be kept following the verdict.

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VIDEO – CNN

A Cleveland police officer has been found not guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of two unarmed passengers whose car hood he mounted, firing multiple shots into their windshield.

Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. He rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict.

“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell said while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.

“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.

UPDATE I: Not Guilty on all charges …

The trial was also notable in that it was a bench trial in which the Judge John. P. O’Connell acted as the finder of fact.

Even more unusually, at the close of the trial the judge spent over an hour, prior to announcing the verdict, stepping through his rationale for coming to his conclusion.

The result is Judge O’Connell ruled that:

• The two counts of voluntary manslaughter had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt;
• The two counts of felonious assault had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt; but
• Brelo escapes legal liability for those assault charges because he proved justification by a preponderance of the evidence.

UPDATE II: Budish says sheriff’s deputies will keep streets safe in wake of Brelo verdict.

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced sheriff’s deputies will join police to keep streets safe following the verdict in Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo’s trial.

At the end of the trial, O’Donnell said he was aware of unrest related to police use of force in other cities, including Baltimore. Mayor Frank Jackson said during a community meeting that the city is tapping residents, activists and even protesters to help make sure demonstrations don’t become violent.

“I firmly believe that the First Amendment gives every citizen a rightful path to speak out and protest against that which they do not like. However, the path to free speech ends at the door to violence.

29 Year Old Police Officer Kerrie Orozco Killed in the Line of Duty by Marcus D. Wheeler, a 26 Year Old Black Male, in Omaha, NE … RIP

Black on White Police officer crime …

29 year old Omaha’s police officer Kerrie Orozco, a 7 year veteran of the police force, has died at Creighton Medical Center following a shooting in Omaha, NE. Officer Orozco was a part of the Omaha Police Department’s fugitive unit who were attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant. The suspect was also shot and killed after a confrontation at North 30th Street and Martin Avenue just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. The suspect was also shot and killed. According to the Omaha Police Department, Marcus D. Wheeler was a convicted felon and a known gang member.

UPDATE I: Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer made the announcement at a news conference Wednesday.

The slain officer was identified as 7-year veteran Kerrie Orozco, 29.

According to Schmaderer, Orozco and other officers with the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force were conducting surveillance on a shooting suspect in the area of Martin Avenue and Read Street just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. The fugitive officers were attempting to locate and arrest Marcus D. Wheeler, 26, who had a felony warrant for first-degree assault as a result of a shooting investigation.

Officers spotted Wheeler in front of a home off nearby Vane Street.

Schmaderer said Wheeler fired several shots at officers and then fled toward a home on Martin Avenue.

Police Chief Todd Schmaderer News Conference

UPDATE II: Reaction to Officer Kerrie Orozco’s death.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts

Susanne and I send our prayers and deepest sympathies to the family and colleagues of Officer Orozco. Today’s tragic news is devastating to the law enforcement community and all Nebraskans. We must all ensure that Officer Orozco’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Police Searching for 25 Year Old Anthony Dale Barbour & 2 Year Old Girl Missing Since 5/17/15 in Monroe County, KY

Police are searching for a missing 2 year old unnamed girl who is believed to be with 25 year old Anthony Dale Barbour of Summer Shade, Kentucky. The two were last seen on Sunday, May 17, 2015 in Monroe County, KY. Anthony Dale Barbour is the boyfriend of the child’s biological mother. Barbour may be driving a red 2000 Pontiac Sunfire with license plate #143PCT.

According to troopers with the Kentucky State Police, the little girl, whose identity was not released, was believed to be with 25-year-old Anthony Dale Barbour, of Summer Shade, Kentucky.

Barbour was described as a white male, standing 5’11” and weighing 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, along with some facial hair.

The two-year-old girl was described as being 24” tall and 25 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.

The two were last seen Sunday in Monroe County, Kentucky.

UPDATE I: On Tuesday evening, troopers said they found a red 2000 Pontiac Sunfire in an abandoned field; however, after an extensive search, they said they did not find Barbour or the 2-year-old girl.

The investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information was urged to contact the Kentucky State Police Post 15 Columbia at (270)384-4796 or Post 3 Bowling Green at (270)782-2010.

Daily Commentary – Monday, May 18, 2015 – After 32 Years, I have Decided to Retire as a Law Enforcement Officer

• May 24, 2015 will be my last day but I will continue to support and cover policing issues

Daily Commentary – Monday, May 18, 2015 Download

Abram Wade “Pete” Franklin, Fifth Person Arrested in Connection With Shooting Deaths of Mississippi Officers Benjamin Deen & Liquori Tate

5TH DIRTBAG ARRESTED IN THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF HATTIESBURG POLICE OFFICERS BENJAMIN DEAN AND LIQUORI TATE …

29 year old Abram Wade “Pete” Franklin of 507 North 38th Avenue in Hattiesburg  has been arrested and becomes the 5th suspect charged in connection with the shooting deaths of Hattiesburg police officers Benjamin Deen & Liquori Tate. Franklin has been charged with obstruction of justice in the murders of Deen and Liquori. Franklin is being held in the Forrest County Jail.

Others arrested in the two officers murders are 28 year old Cornelius Clark has been charged with obstruction of justice, Marvin Banks, 29, and Joanie Calloway, 22, were each charged with two counts of capital murder and Curtis Banks, 26.

Abram Wade “Pete” Franklin, 29, was charged with obstruction of justice

Authorities in Mississippi said late Wednesday that they had arrested a fifth person in connection with the murder of two Hattiesburg police officers over the weekend.

Abram Wade “Pete” Franklin, 29, was arrested by Mississippi Bureau of Investigation agents and charged with obstruction of justice. He was being held in the Forrest County Jail pending an initial bond hearing. MBI spokesman Warren Strain declined to say what Franklin did to merit the charge.

Four others have already been charged in the Saturday shootings of Hattiesburg officers Benjamin Deen and Liquori Tate and remain in jail. Marvin Banks, 29, is jailed without bond on two capital murder charges. His 22-year-old girlfriend, Joanie Calloway, and 26-year-old brother, Curtis Banks, are charged as accessories after the fact. A friend, 28-year-old Cornelius Clark, is charged with obstruction of justice.