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In November of 2012, during a high-speed police chase, cops gathered in front of the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
After hearing what they believed to be a gunshot from a vehicle fleeing from them. The incident occurred in the state of Ohio.
Within the following 22 minutes, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, the two people driving recklessly in the car, both died from gunshot wounds sustained inside the vehicle.
The documentary “137 Shots,” which can be streamed on Netflix, investigates the incident and the more significant problem of police shootings in the United States.
Officer Michael Brelo was one of the people involved and was brought to trial for his part in the incident.
What happened to Michael Brelo?
After meeting for the first time in a homeless shelter in Cleveland, Malissa, 30, and Timothy, 43, took off in Timothy’s car to start their new life together.
A police officer in undercover attire found Timothy’s vehicle on November 29, 2012, in a neighborhood with a high rate of criminal activity.
After that, he attempted to pull the vehicle over for violating the road rules.
Meanwhile, Timothy fled the scene and was later spotted driving past two police officers stationed outside the courthouse.
These officers believed they heard a gunshot from Timothy’s vehicle and quickly relayed their suspicions via radio.
A subsequent investigation revealed that the noise resulted from the vehicle’s backfire. However, by then, around 150 officers and over 60 patrol cars had joined the pursuit.
The officers remained puzzled as to why Timothy refused to pull over, despite their relentless pursuit. Finally, when Timothy entered the parking lot of an East Cleveland school, the chase came to an end.
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As police cruisers surrounded the vehicle, one of the officers opened fire on it. When the police came, numerous of the policemen reported seeing a pistol while they were inside the car.
During the next seconds, thirteen officers opened fire on Timothy’s vehicle, striking it 137 times with bullets.
Michael Brelo’s activities were subjected to a thorough investigation following the event. At that moment, he had been working as a member of the police force for close to five years.
According to other accounts, Michael fired 49 rounds and even climbed onto the hood of Timothy’s car to fire at the occupants from there.
Michael admitted, under questioning, that he and his companion were terrified that the vehicle might run over them.
Michael Brelo in police custody
Following the gunfight, authorities arrested Michael and charged him with two counts of voluntary manslaughter for his alleged involvement.
Accusations surfaced against five managers for neglecting their duties.
Michael’s trial began in April 2015, with the prosecution asserting that he acted inappropriately by jumping onto Timothy’s hood and firing his revolver.
Conversely, the defense argued that Michael had a reasonable belief that Timothy and Malissa were armed, justifying his use of deadly force against them.
Police set Michael Brelo free
After a lengthy legal process, Michael’s innocence was finally established in May 2015. Immediately after the verdict was announced, several protests were held in front of the courthouse.
On Saturday, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty for homicide and criminal assault charges brought against Officer Michael Brelo of the Cleveland Police Department.
Brelo’s use of deadly force against the two victims, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams was deemed legal by the judge.
Even though the government had shown beyond a reasonable doubt the components of the felony assault charge.
The event that ultimately resulted in their murders took place on the evening of November 29, 2012. During that time, law enforcement officers shot more than 137 rounds into Russell’s vehicle.
Officer Brelo jumped on top of the halted automobile, reloaded his gun, and fired 15 times when the car stopped. Russell and Williams had nothing that could be considered a weapon.
Three days after the judge’s finding that Brelo was not guilty, the Cleveland Police Department settled with the United States. The Departments of Justice of the United States Government.
Following the revelation made earlier this year by the Department of Justice that the Cleveland Police Department “engages in a pattern or practice of the uses of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the parties agreed.
Where is Michael Brelo now?
In January 2016, the department fired six of the thirteen officers involved in the shooting, including Michael, while suspending the other six for up to a month without pay.
An arbitrator restored the jobs of the five previously fired police officers in June 2017.
Michael is currently unemployed, and his situation hasn’t improved. He lives in Bay Village, Ohio, with his family and seems to be working as a parking supervisor there.