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Article published May 21, 2010
Motorcyclists to ride path of police victim
Ottawa Hills event to show support for Mike McCloskey
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By JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Exactly one year after Michael McCloskey was shot and paralyzed by an Ottawa Hills police officer during a traffic stop, several hundred of his fellow motorcyclists plan to retrace his fateful ride.
This time, police will escort the bikers.
Area motorcyclists plan to gather at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Omni, 2567 West Bancroft St., and begin the ride through Ottawa Hills about noon. The riders will wind up around 1 p.m. at Ottawa Hills Village Hall, 2521 Richards Rd., where a rally is planned in support of public safety - for everyone.
"We want to send a message to Ottawa Hills that citizens in this community will stand up for what they believe in, they will show support for people who need it, that they support Mike," said Kaytie Johnson, one of the organizers. "We want to take a stand against excessive force, take a stand against profiling in Ottawa Hills."
Ms. Johnson said organizers have been working with village officials on the event, which is expected to draw more than 400 motorcyclists.
"We're showing Ottawa Hills in numbers of bodies standing on their front lawn that collectively we're against excessive force," she said. "We do not want this to happen again."
McCloskey
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About 2 a.m. on May 23, 2009, Mr. McCloskey, now 25, and his friend, Aaron Snyder, had just left the Omni on their motorcycles and were riding down Indian Road when an Ottawa Hills police officer pulled them over. The officer subsequently shot Mr. McCloskey once in the back while the rider was still sitting on his bike.
At a jury trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court last week, the officer, Thomas White, 27, contended he fired once at Mr. McCloskey because he believed the motorcyclist was reaching for a weapon and that his life was in danger.
The jury deliberated more than six hours before returning a guilty verdict against White on a charge of felonious assault with a firearms specification.
Although the incident caused anger and outrage, Ms. Johnson said Sunday's ride and rally are not intended to be confrontational but "a peaceful outlet."
Ottawa Hills Police Chief Robert Overmeyer is hoping so. He said the village is bringing in officers on overtime to block off intersections and make sure the motorcyclists have safe road conditions. The village is picking up the tab for portable toilets at the rally site, he said.
"I want to show we're having cooperation, that we're being hospitable," Chief Overmeyer said, adding that he hoped his officers would not be heckled in return.
"They're within their legal right to have a rally, but we're not going to provide any comment or anybody to be yelled out," he said.
Marc Thompson, Ottawa Hills village manager, sent a letter to village residents Wednesday informing them of the rally, outlining the route, and asking them not to leave cars parked on streets along the route.
"The Village Manager and the Ottawa Hills Police Department have been working with the organizers and will be providing a police escort for the riders," Mr. Thompson said in the letter. "… If you are on the road, please be mindful of this event and the safety of the motorcyclists."
Contact Jennifer Feehan at:
jfeehan@theblade.com
or 419-724-6129.