CINCINNATI - Lawsuit filed against cops

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Lawsuit Filed Against Cincinnati Cops

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Five people have filed a lawsuit against Cincinnati police officers who they say attacked them without warning or provocation during last week's protests.

The fatal police shooting of a black man on April 7 prompted three days of violent protests and rioting. Dozens of people were injured, more than 800 arrests were made, and arson damage was estimated to top $200,000. The mayor imposed Cincinnati's first citywide curfew since the race riots of 1968. Police and city lawyers declined to comment on the civil lawsuit Thursday, saying they hadn't seen it. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

The plaintiffs, who say they were hit, shot with beanbags and sprayed with eye irritant, are asking for unspecified damages. In a separate legal development, black residents who sued in March accusing police of 30 years of racial profiling are moving toward resolving the dispute with the city. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday that an outline of the deal was presented to U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott, who must approve any agreement. Final approval will rest with the City Council, which could vote as early as next week. The deal proposed Thursday would cost as much as $200,000, with half coming from city taxpayers and half from a private foundation that studies race relations, the newspaper said.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001


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