Bellaire Police Sergeant Denies Racial Profiling

According to an article posted at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6360880 , a Bellaire police sergeant charged with shooting a civilian in an incident which raised accusations of racial profiling was shocked by his indictment and maintains that he is in no way a racist.  See, Khanna, Roma, “Indicted Officer In Shooting Denies He’s A Racist,” chron.com, April 8, 2009.  As stated in the article, a grand jury indicted the police officer, who is white, in the December 31 shooting of a black man in the driveway of his own home near a vehicle the police officer mistakenly believed was stolen.  Id.  The article further notes that the shooting prompted allegations that the police officer’s actions were racially motivated and ignited concerns about the treatment of minorities in Bellaire.  Id.  The police officer stands charged with first-degree aggravated assault by a public servant.  Id.  The Bellaire Police Department investigation is ongoing, and the officer remains suspended with pay.  Id.