Identities of 6 at Riot Scene Sought

A police task force has appealed for help identifying six men suspected of committing crimes at Florence and Normandie avenues during the first night of the riots this spring.

At a news conference Wednesday, police displayed 13 photographs of the men taken that night. Although none of the glossy color photos depict the commission of crimes, police say the men are wanted on charges including robbery and assault.

“There are still people out there we need to identify and at this point we need to ask the public’s assistance,” said Lt. Reggie Maeweather.

Sgt. Art Daedelow, who heads the Florence and Normandie Task Force, said neighbors have been helpful throughout the investigation, but he would not say if the photos were supplied by neighbors.

In May, the FBI subpoenaed photos and videotape from news organizations and asked residents who had photographed or videotaped criminal acts to turn their pictures over to authorities.

Daedelow said that although the task force has identified 60 crimes--involving 42 victims and 25 suspects--at the intersection on the evening of April 29, police have identified and apprehended only seven suspects, including the four men charged with beating truck driver Reginald O. Denny.

One of the photos shows a man walking away from Denny’s truck. Police believe the man helped pull Denny from his truck and struck him on the head with a claw hammer.

Other pictures show two men standing over a man they had allegedly beaten and robbed, another man believed to be named Carlos, who police say attacked a reporter’s car, and a sixth man who allegedly pulled victims from cars.