Numerous Protesters Arrested in US’s Ohio Following Acquittal of Policeman

A large number of protesters gathered outside the Cuyahoga County court in Cleveland following the announcement of the acquittal of white police officer Michael Brelo, who fired his gun 49 times and killed Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams in November 2012.

According to the court ruling on Saturday, Brelo knowingly caused serious physical harm to both victims, but did so to protect himself and others present and will not be punished, Sputnik reported.

Some of the protesters carried signs with photos of the victims, while others called for the resignation of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

Three people were arrested during the protests for “aggravated riot, felonious assault, obstructing justice,” the Cleveland police’s twitter reported Saturday.

Later police informed about “multiple arrests” of demonstrators due to unlawful behavior by large crowd, unlawful congregation and failure to disperse.

At least 15 people were taken into custody.

Excessive use of force by police became a nationwide concern after a fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown led to mass protests in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014.

Earlier this week, six Baltimore police officers were indicted on charges connected to the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died of injuries sustained while being transported in a police van, last month.