A non jury trial in Cleveland has found police officer Michael Brelo not guilty. A judge ruled that Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo was not guilty in the deaths of two unarmed people in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire.
However, US Justice Department officials have determined that Cleveland police for years engaged in a pattern of using excessive force and vow to investigate. The deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, both black, were included in a 2014 US Department of Justice report that called for a federal monitor to oversee the Cleveland Police Department.
The not guilty verdict comes amid heightened scrutiny and protest around police shooting deaths, including the looming outcome of an investigation into the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by two Cleveland police officers in November.
CNN: Cleveland officer not guilty in killing unarmed pair http://cnn.it/1JJUgC1
Cleveland Police Officer Found Not Guilty in Unarmed Couple's Shooting Deaths - ABC News http://abcn.ws/1JKTRPz via @ABC
Cleveland Police Officer Found Not Guilty in Unarmed Couple's Shooting Deaths http://www.people.com/article/cleveland-police-officer-found-not-guilty… via @People
BBC News - Cleveland policeman Brelo cleared over unarmed black deaths http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32859763
Protests simmer, but Cleveland ‘very calm’ after cop’s acquittal http://to.pbs.org/1JKUdWp via @NewsHour
Cleveland cop acquitted of deaths in 137-shot barrage http://usat.ly/1Suh0ty via @usatoday
Photo: AP