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American Morning
Cincinnati City Council Meeting Becomes Public Forum on Police Shooting
Aired April 18, 2001 - 09:35 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A city council meeting in Cincinnati turned into a public forum on the police shooting of a young black man. The shooting set off days of unrest in the streets, which led to an all-night curfew. Several residents warned of more violence to come.
More now on the story from reporter Leigh Searcy with our CNN affiliate WLWT, in Cincinnati.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEIGH SEARCY, WLWT REPORTER (voice-over): Since 1995, 15 African-American suspects have died from confrontations with police. Many consider that 15 too many, their anger and outrage obvious.
What may not be as clear is the circumstances that led up to each death. Eyewitness News 5 examined each case, and this is what we found, according to police records: Of the 15 suspects who have died in battle with Cincinnati police, seven of them were armed with guns, and five others were armed with other weapons: One had a knife, one a brick, one a board, and two others had cars police considered to be used as weapons. Of the 15 suspects killed, three were unarmed. Of the three, police say one of the men threatened to have a gun.
Timothy Thomas was one of those three people. His mother says she wants to know what happened.
ANGELA LEISURE, VICTIM'S MOTHER: How many people have to die before we get some answers? Let my son be the last person to die.
SEARCY: Another controversial case is the death of Roger Owensby. You'll recall Owensby, who was also unarmed, suffocated while being subdued by officers. Two officers -- Patrick Caton and Robert Jorg -- are both charged in the case.
While the controversy surrounding the Thomas case continues, Cincinnati's top cop defends his officers.
CHIEF THOMAS STREICHER, CINCINNATI POLICE: Our emphasis always is on doing things as efficiently and effectively as possible. We want things to be done in the safest manner, but that can only be accomplished if people comply with legitimate police orders -- and that's what's important to remember. SEARCY: But those orders remain in question from many people who feel they just can't trust the police.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A city council meeting in Cincinnati turned into a public forum on the police shooting of a young black man. The shooting set off days of unrest in the streets, which led to an all-night curfew. Several residents warned of more violence to come.
More now on the story from reporter Leigh Searcy with our CNN affiliate WLWT, in Cincinnati.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEIGH SEARCY, WLWT REPORTER (voice-over): Since 1995, 15 African-American suspects have died from confrontations with police. Many consider that 15 too many, their anger and outrage obvious.
What may not be as clear is the circumstances that led up to each death. Eyewitness News 5 examined each case, and this is what we found, according to police records: Of the 15 suspects who have died in battle with Cincinnati police, seven of them were armed with guns, and five others were armed with other weapons: One had a knife, one a brick, one a board, and two others had cars police considered to be used as weapons. Of the 15 suspects killed, three were unarmed. Of the three, police say one of the men threatened to have a gun.
Timothy Thomas was one of those three people. His mother says she wants to know what happened.
ANGELA LEISURE, VICTIM'S MOTHER: How many people have to die before we get some answers? Let my son be the last person to die.
SEARCY: Another controversial case is the death of Roger Owensby. You'll recall Owensby, who was also unarmed, suffocated while being subdued by officers. Two officers -- Patrick Caton and Robert Jorg -- are both charged in the case.
While the controversy surrounding the Thomas case continues, Cincinnati's top cop defends his officers.
CHIEF THOMAS STREICHER, CINCINNATI POLICE: Our emphasis always is on doing things as efficiently and effectively as possible. We want things to be done in the safest manner, but that can only be accomplished if people comply with legitimate police orders -- and that's what's important to remember.
SEARCY: But those orders remain in question from many people who feel they just can't trust the police.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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