City Talks To Lawyers About Controversial Shooting

By Elizabeth Scarborough

POSTED: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

UPDATED: 7:24 am CST January 13, 2009

BELLAIRE -- Bellaire City Council held a special meeting Monday night, mostly behind closed doors, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The agenda said the meeting was "for the purpose of consulting with an attorney regarding potential litigation and matters within the attorney-client privilege on a police incident involving a shooting."

The shooting victim, 23-year-old Robbie Tolan, remained in the hospital nearly two weeks after he was shot in his own driveway.

At Tolan's at about 2 a.m. on Dec. 31, police approached Tolan and his cousin, believing they were in a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was theirs.

The situation escalated and Sgt. Jeff Cotton fired three shots. One of the shots hit Tolan.

After Monday's meeting, Mayor Cindy Siegel said, "It was a tragic event and at this point we don't have anything new to share."

"He's still in pain, he's still recovering," Tolan's family's attorney George Gibson said. "They're watching him closely."

Gibson said it's obvious what the city is doing.

"They're now deciding they're going to lawyer up," Gibson said.

During the meeting, two protesters walked in front of City Hall.

"The city needs to do the right thing," said Elaine Riquelmy . "The Tolan family deserves to be treated fairly."

Tolan is an aspiring ball player like his World Series-winning dad, Robert Tolan. He may never play again, his family said.

Gibson said the family has not yet filed any lawsuits against the city.

 

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