Miami Policeman Guilty : Verdicts on Killings of Two Blacks

A jury today found a Latino police officer guilty of manslaughter in the deaths of two black men that led to three days of inner-city rioting.

Miami Officer William Lozano, 31, was charged with two counts of manslaughter in the Jan. 16 deaths of motorcyclist Clement Lloyd, 23, and his passenger, Allan Blanchard, 24. The two counts carry a total maximum sentence of 45 years.

Lozano showed no emotion as the verdicts were read and the jurors were polled. But the officer cried as he left the courtroom through a side door, surrounded by marshals and relatives.

At the office of his defense lawyer, Roy Black, Lozano said: “I wasn’t given a fair trial. From the beginning a lot of the evidence was denied . . . but I am going to keep fighting for my job and my justice.”

Prosecutors say Lozano fired unnecessarily as Lloyd’s motorcycle fled a squad car after a traffic violation. Lloyd died of gunshot wounds while Blanchard died of injuries suffered in the resulting crash.

Lozano said he fired in self-defense when the motorcyclist tried to run him down.

The January riot left one man dead and 11 others wounded with gunshots. Thirteen buildings were set afire, others were looted, and 372 persons were arrested.

Announcement of the verdict was withheld for about two hours as police, social workers and community relations officials fanned out through the city’s black neighborhoods, fearful that an acquittal would spark violence.

Twice before in the past decade the acquittal of police officers in the deaths of Miami blacks had triggered racial violence.

“The jury returned what we thought was a just verdict. It was a jury that represents all segments of our society,” said Assistant State Atty. John Hogan, the lead prosecutor.

“I think this is very significant,” said John Bennett, executive director of a community center in the predominantly black Liberty City neighborhood, after the verdicts were issued. “It restores the people’s faith in the judicial system. People now can believe in the system again.”

“It was a litmus test that sends a message out to the entire nation,” said Rev. Thomas Ferguson, a black clergyman.

Police Chief Perry Anderson said that even though the officer was convicted, police will maintain high visibility at least through Friday to forestall any trouble.

As for the department’s opinion of the trial’s outcome, he said, “We accept the verdict.”

Anderson said Lozano’s attorney had notified him he would appeal the verdict.

The sequestered jury began deliberations Wednesday after seven weeks of testimony and hearings. They worked for about six hours Wednesday and reconvened this morning, deliberating for an additional 1 1/2 hours before notifying the judge they were finished.

Circuit Judge Joseph Farina ordered the parties to return Jan. 24, but did not indicate whether sentencing would take place at that time. Lozano remained free on $10,000 bond.

He faces up to 30 years in the death of Lloyd, on the charge of manslaughter using a firearm, and 15 years in the death of Blanchard, on the charge of manslaughter not using a firearm.