Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Police in Benton Harbor, Michigan Struggling To Get Riot Under Control

Aired June 18, 2003 - 5:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Benton Harbor, Michigan, have been struggling all night long to get a riot under control. It is the night in a row that hundreds of people have taken to the streets of an eight-block area of the tiny southwestern Michigan town.
The violence started when an African-American motorcyclist crashed and died while being chased by police. Jennifer Kuk of our affiliate WSBT has the latest from the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER KUK, REPORTER, WBST: When we left there was still a lot of gunfire, a lot smoke. Police have been working all night long to get his under control. And it looks like they're finally able to do that. It is a lot quieter. But there is still a lot of chaos going on right now.

Six homes have actually been set on fire, some of which, people live in. There are four cars that have been torched. And we're talking an area of about eight-blocks long. Hundreds of people in the streets throwing bricks and stones at other people, even cars; it is much bigger than last night's demonstration.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Jennifer Kuk, reporting for us. If you are wondering why police were chasing that motorcyclist, apparently he was speeding. Residents are very upset with police because they say that the police knew who this man was and they could have gone in to arrest him later, instead they chased him until the motorcycle crashed and the man died.

Police say they do plan to declare a city-wide curfew later today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Under Control>


Aired June 18, 2003 - 5:32:27   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Benton Harbor, Michigan, have been struggling all night long to get a riot under control. It is the night in a row that hundreds of people have taken to the streets of an eight-block area of the tiny southwestern Michigan town.
The violence started when an African-American motorcyclist crashed and died while being chased by police. Jennifer Kuk of our affiliate WSBT has the latest from the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER KUK, REPORTER, WBST: When we left there was still a lot of gunfire, a lot smoke. Police have been working all night long to get his under control. And it looks like they're finally able to do that. It is a lot quieter. But there is still a lot of chaos going on right now.

Six homes have actually been set on fire, some of which, people live in. There are four cars that have been torched. And we're talking an area of about eight-blocks long. Hundreds of people in the streets throwing bricks and stones at other people, even cars; it is much bigger than last night's demonstration.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Jennifer Kuk, reporting for us. If you are wondering why police were chasing that motorcyclist, apparently he was speeding. Residents are very upset with police because they say that the police knew who this man was and they could have gone in to arrest him later, instead they chased him until the motorcycle crashed and the man died.

Police say they do plan to declare a city-wide curfew later today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Under Control>