Robert Tolan, 23, was shot by police New Year's Eve

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Family of Man Shot By Cop Attend Bellaire Council Meeting Last Edited: Monday, 05 Jan 2009, 10:34 PM CST Created: Monday, 05 Jan 2009, 7:41 PM CST Robbie Tolan
FOX 26 News


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HOUSTON -- A dozen family members of a man shot by a Bellaire Police Officer crowded council chambers Monday evening, looking for an apology from city leaders.

Robert Tolan, 23, was shot outside his home during the early morning hours of New Year's Eve after police mistakenly thought he was driving a stolen car. The controversial shooting has outraged people living in Bellaire and surrounding areas.

YouTube - Another black man shot by police while on the ground night before Oscar Grant at BART station

YouTube - Another black man shot by police while on the ground night before Oscar Grant at BART station

"I think the city would have done well if it would have just said it was sorry it happened," said Geoffrey Berg, one of the Tolan family's attorneys.

During the meeting, Tolan's parents and about a dozen other family members sat silently in support of "Robbie." The city manager and mayor briefly addressed the shooting, saying their thoughts are with the Tolan family.

"Tonight we're not going to sit here and debate the subject and politically grandstand by trying to second guess what should have been done," said Cindy Siegel, Mayor of Bellaire.

Attorneys for Tolan's family say "Robbie" is in a lot of pain. They said the bullet pierced his lung and traveled to his liver, where it remains. He is still in the hospital and will probably not be going home anytime soon.

Tolan was a former baseball star at Bellaire High School and was hoping to make it in the big leagues. On the last day of the year, though, those hopes were dashed.

Veteran Bellaire Police Sgt. Jeff Cotton approached Tolan in his front yard after he mistakenly thought the young man had gotten out of a stolen car. Family members say Tolan was later shot after he protested an officer's treatment of his mother.

"Unfortunately on this particular day, it wasn't just police officers who put their lives on the line. It was Robbie Tolan who put his life on the line without knowing it," said Berg.

Family members believe Tolan was a victim of racial profiling and wonder, through their attorneys, if the leaders of their community can judge what happened with an open mind. The city manager revealed he's friends with the officer who shot Tolan.

"The question then becomes, 'Could that knowledge of the police department and the officer cloud my judgment and bias my speculation? I don't really know, but I supposed it could, " said Bernie Satterwhite, Bellaire's city manager.

Tolan's attorneys say they're pleased the Harris County District Attorney's Office is undertaking an independent investigation of the case. Once the investigation is complete, the city manager could decide to take action against the officer.

The officer is currently on administrative leave.

Quannel X is planning a protest outside the Bellaire Police Deparrtment Tuesday afternoon.



Peace be upon you