Another city awaits decisions on police-involved deaths
CLEVELAND -- Baltimore isn't the only city where there's tension between cops and the community.
The mayor of Cleveland said this week his city is prepared to handle reaction to the trial of an officer charged in the deadly shootings of two people. It comes as officials investigate the fatal police shooting of a 12-year-old boy.
Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo is on trial for manslaughter in the deaths of Amalissa Williams and Timothy Russell. In 2012, their car backfired and officers said they thought the victims, who were unarmed, were shooting at them.
Police fired 137 rounds, including 49 by Brelo, who is accused of shooting even after the victims had stopped moving.
Last year, a Justice Department inquiry found more than 600 cases of excessive police force in Cleveland from 2010 to 2013.
Samarria Rice's pain is still fresh from the death of her 12-year-old son, Tamir, who was shot by a white officer last November. A security tape showed him waving what turned out to be a toy pistol.
When his 14-year-old sister went to his aid, police tackled her, repeatedly. An investigation of the shooting has gone on for months, but no charges have been filed.
"I'm very much angry," said Rice, adding that she doesn't know what the holdup is. "I need an indictment immediately.
"It's an open and shut case, it's five months later. I don't know what they're waiting on."
But does she think this is a race problem or a police problem?
"It's a race problem with bad police officers. Let me just say that. Because all police officers are not bad," she said. "I'm aware of that."
In the trial of Brelo, summations are set for next week. There is no jury, so a decision from the judge to either acquit or convict could come a week after that.