Judge Finds Probable Cause for Murder Charge in Tamir Rice Shooting
CLEVELAND, June 11 (UPI) — A municipal court judge in Cleveland on Thursday found probable cause to charge a police officer with murder for the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice.
Judge Ronald Adrine released an opinion saying he found probable cause to arrest Cleveland police Officer Timothy Loehmann for the charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty.
The opinion came about as the result of affidavits filed by activists who sought to have Loehman and Officer Frank Garmback arrested for a variety of charges, including aggravated murder. Adrine did not find probable cause for aggravated murder charges for either officer.
For Garmback, Adrine found probable cause for charges of negligent homicide and dereliction of duty charges. The judge’s findings are only recommendations.
Garmback was driving the police cruiser on Nov. 22 when he and Loehman responded to a 911 call about a person wielding a pistol that was “probably fake.” Within seconds of arriving at the scene, Loehman fired several shots at Rice, who was playing with a toy gun at Cudell Recreation Center.
The affidavits were filed with the Cleveland Municipal Court prior to the presentation of the case to a grand jury by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty. McGinty’s office received the case from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department last week after it concluded its six-month investigation. It’s unclear when the case will be presented to a grand jury.
