39online Events & Happenings Newsletter | 39 on Twitter | 39 on YouTube | 39 on Facebook
Dozens of angry protestors gathered in front of the Bellaire Police Department, a day after Sgt. Jeffery Cotton was acquitted of shooting an unarmed black man named Robert Tolan.
"There is no such thing as the Fresh Prince of Bellaire in Bellaire Texas," said Community Activist, Deric Muhammad. "You are not safe in Harris County driving while black."
Chanting "Rotten CottonÂ… has got to go", demonstrators were demanding that the officer not be allowed to return to work, and even made open threats against him and the police department.
"We say to Officer Cotton, we will watch your every move, we will have our eyes on you," warned activist Quanell X. "We say to the city of Bellaire, do something with your trigger happy cops."
It didn't take long before anti-protestors showed up and tried to muzzle protestors' chants.
"I'm in support of them not spinning this into a racial thing," said long-time Bellaire resident, Cheryl Grummons. "I just can't stand that."
They clashed in the streets with residents saying it's not about race, but about cooperating with police during an investigation. It all started at the end of 2008 when police mistook Robert Tolan for a car theft suspect, and forced him to lie face down in front of the home he shared with his parents. When his mother came out, she reportedly got into a scuffle with Sgt. Cotton. Tolan was shot when he tried to come to his mother's defense.
"I don't think it was about race... I might have questioned it if the fellow was lying on the ground and cooperating with police and he started roughing him up, I might have a different feel for it," said Ed Perkins, another resident.
Bellaire PD said the protestors had every right to demonstrate peacefully and that officers were ready to protect those rights if needed be. They also confirmed that Sgt. Will be returning to work, but couldn't say when or exactly what his duties would be.
Meanwhile, the Tolan family plans to file a civil lawsuit against the department.
