Cincinnati officer acquitted in shooting

Associated Press

CINCINNATI — A white police officer was acquitted Wednesday in the shooting death of an unarmed black man, a killing that sparked the city’s worst racial unrest in three decades.

Protesters gathered outside the courthouse and at a City Hall meeting after the verdict, shouting and chanting, "No justice, no peace." Police said the city remained otherwise quiet.

Officer Stephen Roach had been charged with negligent homicide and obstructing official business after he shot Timothy Thomas, 19, in a dark alley on April 7.

Hamilton County Municipal Judge Ralph Winkler ruled on the case after hearing the trial without a jury, at Roach’s request. The officer did not testify.

"This shooting was a split-second reaction to a very dangerous situation created by Timothy Thomas," Winkler said. "Police Officer Roach’s action was reasonable on his part, based on … the information he had at the time in that dark Cincinnati alley."

He said Roach’s record was unblemished, while Thomas’ was not, and noted that Thomas failed to respond to an order to show his hands. Thomas had been wanted on a variety of warrants.

Mayor Charlie Luken called for calm after the verdict, while placing additional police on duty.

The Rev. Damon Lynch, a black leader and minister, called the verdict "an atrocity" but said, "We’ll urge people to be peaceful, as we have been doing for 10 weeks."

Roach, 27, faced up to nine months in jail if convicted of both charges. He still faces departmental administrative proceedings under which he could face penalties including dismissal, police said.