Judge's Ruling Allows For Trial Of White Cleveland Police Supervisors In East Cleveland

A Cuyahoga County judge has dismissed misdemeanor charges against five white Cleveland police supervisors for failing to control a chase that ended with two unarmed African-Americans being killed in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire. The decision allows prosecutors to try the case in the predominantly black suburb of East Cleveland, where the 2012 chase ended and where defense attorneys say prosecutors stand a better chance of winning. It's uncertain when or if a trial may proceed because an appeal by defense attorneys to keep the case out of that city is pending. The supervisors were originally indicted on dereliction of duty charges in county court in May 2014. Prosecutors announced that identical charges would be filed in East Cleveland after the acquittal of officer Michael Brelo on manslaughter charges May 23. In his ruling, Judge John O’Donnell says he finds “no bad faith” in moving the trial to East Cleveland. And, while he recognizes “the extra burdens placed on the defendants by the new prosecution,” they don’t rise to constitutional violations.