01-08-2009 06:15 PM
Fortunately, today, Robbie Tolan is still alive but, his potential baseball career is in jeopardy.* On December 31, 2008, Tolan and his cousing were returning to the family’s home after making a late-night run to get some food. They were driving Tolan’s parents’ SUV and had pulled into the driveway when they say a man with a gun and a flashlight approached them.
According to the two men, the officer did not identify himself.* The officer and his partner had both men on lie on the ground.* In the meantime, Tolan’s parents heard a commotion (it was in their own driveway, after all) and came out to see what was happening.* Police will only say that an “altercation” occured.* The family says that Tolan’s mother was pushed up against a wall.* The family says that when Tolan tried to lean up to see what was happening, he was shot in the chest.* The bullet went through his lung and lodged in his liver.* Tolan, the son of former Major League player Bobby Tolan, is currently recovering in a Houston hospital and the officer in question, Sgt. Jeff Cotton, and his partner
are on administrative leave after the shooting.
However, this incident has sparked
serious concerns about this being a case of racial profiling. The family resides in the prominent, mostly-white suburb of Bellaire.* Police officials deny that race was a factor but, many are asking what prompted the officers to suspect that the vehicle was stolen.
Both men were unarmed.
The family has retained legal counsel and is asking that charges be filed against the officer.
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Another case of an unarmed black man shot by police
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