Quanell X: If You Shoot One More Black Man in Bellaire, Your City Will Go Up in Flames
Nakia Cooper, KHOU-TV (Houston), May 21, 2010
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Sgt. Jeffrey Cotton was on trial for aggravated assault by a public servant for shooting Robbie Tolan in front of his Bellaire home on New Year’s Eve 2008. Cotton was attempting to arrest Tolan for driving what he believed to be a stolen car. The car belonged to Tolan, but another officer mistakenly typed in the wrong license plate number.
Tolan testified he was on one knee arguing with Cotton for pushing his mother when he was shot. Cotton told jurors the shooting was justified because he believed Tolan was reaching into his waistband for a weapon as he jumped off the ground.
On Tuesday, jurors acquitted Cotton after listening to a week of testimony.
Local activist Quanell X organized a protest Wednesday outside the Bellaire Police Department.
“This cop is a criminal, this cop should be in jail,” Quanell X said. “If you shoot one more black man in Bellaire in cold blood, then your damn city will go up in flames.”
One longtime Bellaire resident showed up at the protest.
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Many {snip} likened the Bellaire Police Department to terrorists that should be eyed cautiously.
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“Call Obama,” someone yelled out in response.
“Sister, Obama can’t do nothing about this, the people in this city are going to have to do something about this,” he [one of the protesters] replied.
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