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Family Of Man Shot By Police Doesn't Get Answers

By Elizabeth Scarborough

POSTED: Tuesday, January 6, 2009

UPDATED: 7:47 am CST January 6, 2009

BELLAIRE, Texas -- The family of a man who was shot by a police officer during a stolen vehicle investigation went to Bellaire City Council Monday, but did not get the answers they were looking for, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Robbie Tolan has been in a hospital bed for the last six days with a bullet lodged in his liver and a punctured lung. He's 23 years old and an aspiring baseball player trying to follow in his famous father's footsteps.

Bobby Tolan, who won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and about a dozen other family members and friends said they thought it was important to be at the Bellaire City Council meeting.

Bellaire police approached Tolan and his cousin in their driveway, reportedly believing they were in a stolen vehicle. Sgt. Jeff Cotton ended up fired his weapon, wounding Tolan.

It turned out the car was not stolen.

City Manager Bernie Satterwhite deferred to the ongoing investigation now being done by the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

"I'm sure the family feels bad towards city," said Satterwhite. "We feel bad a shadow is cast over our great city."

"My thoughts and prayers are with the Tolan family every day and will continue to be," commented Mayor Cindy Siegel.

Tolan's relatives did not speak. Their lawyers described them as "extremely disappointed" by the comments made. They said the city officials care more about political grandstanding than about one of their own residents.