The Ohio National Guard is alerting soldiers to report to duty in preparation for potential riots following the trial of Cleveland, Ohio, police officer Michael Brelo, according to an insider.
At least one National Guard company was ordered to report to home station on May 17 with 72-hour bags because the verdict for Brelo, accused of manslaughter for shooting two unarmed black suspects, is expected on May 18 or 19, said the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
A Cleveland resident also tweeted that she saw police driving around with riot shields sticking out of their trunks in anticipation of the Brelo decision.
#cleveland police driving around with riot shields sticking out of their trunk. Anticipating Michael Brelo decision.
And an Ohio native shot a video of a train transporting military vehicles heading toward Cleveland.
A girl on Facebook posted a photo of the riot gear her father received from the Cleveland Police Dept., another Cleveland resident tweeted. It truly amazes me that Cleveland is armed for a riot that hasnt even started yet.
We are getting more calls with everything thats going on in the country, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the sales manager for a police uniform supplier, Brandon Demarco, said.
Brelo was charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the Nov. 29, 2012 deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams who were both gunned down in a barrage of 137 shots fired by 13 Cleveland officers.
Weve been seeing some things turn up burn theyre suggesting similar things that have happened weve seen on television, he said to WKYC, likely referring to the recent riots in Balitmore, Md., and Ferguson, Mo.
Poster Comment:
Hillary's campaign seems to be race riots. No Hillary, no peas! /s
Brelo fired 49 shots at the suspects involved in the chase.
Attorney General Mike DeWine previously said Brelo climbed on top of a cruiser and fired downward into the suspects vehicle through the windshield. He then stepped across and fired from the hood of the suspects vehicle.
Brelo told investigators he didnt remember doing so.
Five supervisors also face misdemeanor charges of dereliction of duty.
......................................
13 officers fired 137 shots at the two suspects.
The suspects, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, died. No weapon was found in their car.
Sixty-four of the officers were previously found guilty of administrative violations in the chase.