Internal Probe Faults Cincinnati Policeman in Shooting

An internal police probe has concluded that a former officer, whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black man sparked three days of rioting last year, mishandled his revolver and gave conflicting statements to investigators.

Results of the probe were given to the City Council on Tuesday. If the officer was still a member of the Cincinnati force, he could be fired based on the findings, Police Chief Thomas Streicher said.

Stephen Roach, 27, who is white, was acquitted of criminal charges in last April’s shooting of 19-year-old Timothy Thomas, who was fleeing police. The shooting touched off rioting, and led to a federal investigation of the city’s police.

According to the report, Roach told homicide investigators the day of the shooting that he had believed Thomas to be a threat. Three days later, Roach said the shooting was an accident, the report says.

Under police regulations, an officer cannot put a finger inside his gun’s trigger guard until he has taken aim and is ready to “engage a threat.” Roach must have had his finger on the trigger for the gun to discharge, investigators concluded.

“Based on Officer Roach’s statements and the evidence reviewed, he imprudently handled his firearm and unintentionally discharged his firearm when abruptly confronted by Mr. Thomas,” the chief said.

Roach, a Cincinnati officer since 1997, quit in January to work for a suburban police force. He did not return a telephone message left Tuesday with the Evendale department.

His attorney, Merlyn Shiverdecker, said he would review the report with Roach before deciding whether to comment.

After hearing the report, the Rev. Damon Lynch III, who has accused Cincinnati police of using excessive force against blacks, said: “It’s a travesty of justice.”

Streicher said the internal probe began shortly after Roach’s September acquittal. He said results were delayed by Roach’s trial, and a second racially sensitive case involving a black man who died of asphyxiation after being subdued by police. Two white officers were cleared last fall in that case.