CINCINNATI — An attorney for the family of an unarmed black man killed by a police officer says they have been ready to push for a federal civil rights investigation in the case.
Al Gerhardstein says Sam DuBose’s family had a letter drafted and materials ready to send to federal authorities on former University of Cincinnati officer Ray Tensing. That was before Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced Tuesday that he wouldn’t seek a third murder trial for Tensing after two hung juries.
“My heart breaks for the DuBose family,” Deters said, “But, after talking to these jurors [in the previous trials] there’s not a likelihood of success at trial.”
Deters says the case has been referred to the U.S. attorney for southern Ohio, who says he will review it.
“I’m hopeful that the U.S. Attorney’s office will see fit to proceed in this matter because they can admit evidence that we could not before,” Deters said.
Gerhardstein, a veteran civil rights attorney, says the DuBose family is urging that federal authorities “take seriously this opportunity to hold the officer accountable when the state system couldn’t.” He says that’s “the very reason” federal criminal civil rights laws exist.