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Ohio
Brelo Verdict (Ohio v. Brelo)
CLEVELAND, Ohio. A trial was held against police officer Michael Brelo in the deaths resulted from a police shooting of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. A Cleveland Judge heard the case brought by the State of Ohio. After hearing both sides of the case, the Judge found the shooting justified given the facts in the case.
Many have protested the case as Russell and Williams were ultimately found unarmed, despite numerous reports of gun possession and believed shots fired.
Mr. Russell endangered Ms. Williams life – his passenger carrying her on his twenty-two mile police chase at speeds over 120 MPH on city streets, on sidewalks, near a school, albeit at night. Mr. Russell used his vehicle to strike a police car during the end of the chase. That is a person that can be seen as attempting to use their vehicle a deadly weapon.