Texas cop indicted in baseball player's shooting

[Liberal_in_LA]

Source: msnbc

Texas cop indicted in baseball player's shooting
White Houston officer shot Tolan's son, who is black, on New Year's Eve

HOUSTON - A grand jury in Texas has indicted a white Houston police officer in the New Year's Eve shooting of an aspiring baseball player who is black.

Houston police Sgt. Jeffrey Cotton was indicted Monday on one count of aggravated assault by a public servant. If convicted of the felony, the veteran of 10 years on the force faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

Robert Tolan was treated for an abdominal wound after he was shot outside his home.

Officers said they thought the 23-year-old man had been in a stolen SUV.

Tolan's attorney Geoffrey Berg said he believes his client was a victim of racial profiling.

Tolan is the son of former major league baseball


Read more: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30091500/

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Remember this story? the young black man followed TO HIS OWN HOME, DRIVING HIS OWN CAR, shot by a cop who JUST ASSUMED SUV was stolen. Justice may be served.

[jobycom]

1. I remember it. Glad to see them at least make a gesture.

Now let's see if they can get a real conviction, or better yet, a systemic change in training on the racial assumptions that motivate incidents like these, from Houston to Oakland to NYC.

[DoctorMyEyes]

5. two out of three charged

That's two of the three new years eve incidents that I know of where law enforcement gunned down unarmed innocent young black men that have led to charges against the police involved.

I can't think of the kid in New Orleans first name right now, but his last name was Grimes. I hope someone goes on trial for that shooting too. Stupid, senseless, tragic.

edited to add: Adolph. Adolph Grimes. Nothing on google about charges yet.

[npk]

2. Outrageous

These cops, note I didn't say all, need to be made an example out of for others to see. This kind of stuff happens far more often than it should.

[MilesColtrane]

3. I wonder if the penalty for aggravated assault by a public servant is...

...more severe than a plain aggravated assault.

Probably less.

[npk]

4. It sounds like more severe to me.

I mean is it normal to be looking at a life sentence for agg. assault. I dunno.

[John7714]

9. This was attempted murder.

That cop fired his gun three times and hit Tolan in the chest once. The bullet is still in Tolan's liver. Tolan will be affected by this shooting for the rest of his life. Mentally and physically.

[npk]

11. I know that

I was just curious, hoping, that this cop would get the harshest sentence possible. I wasn't aware that people got or could get life for attempted murder. I mean I have seen people get anywhere from 10-40 years on the charge. I just didn't know if this was the norm in the state of Texas. I agree with you that this was a horrible nightmare for the family and the victim.

[John7714]

6. Bellaire is a dirty little town

http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/documents/General%20Information/April%206%20Press%20release.PDF

[AnneD]

7. Hubby was catching the bus

when we lived in Bellaire. He (an Indian) was sitting at the bus stop bench when a police car stopped and the officer asked him what he was doing. Per hubby (great with his Indian accent):

"I had to stop and think if that was a trick question...."


Now the officers are prompt to answer calls but the downside is the profiling. I am glad this is going to court. It was totally uncalled for.

[AnneD]

8. double thread

sorry

[nomorenomore08]

10. Poor Robert Tolan... hope this doesn't end his career...

:(

[jeff30997]

12. "faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison"

Yeah,right.At best we can expect that scumbag to get a retirement party.