Cleveland Municipal Judge Finds Probable Cause for Murder Charge Against Timothy Loehmann

In a fairly unusual development, Cleveland Municipal Judge Ronald Adrine ruled yesterday that there is probable cause to charge officer Timothy Loehmann with murder in connection with the shooting death of Tamir Rice. The opinion came days after a group of clergy and activists filed affidavits urging the court to consider such.

In sum, Adrine found probable cause to charge Loehmann with murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, negligent homicide, dereliction of duty. He similarly found probable cause to charge officer Frank Garmback with negligent homicide and dereliction of duty.

"Generally, the initiation of criminal proceedings in the State of Ohio is the preserve of the prosecuting authority within a given jurisdiction," Adrine wrote. "However, state law does provide an avenue for a private citizen having knowledge of facts to initiate the criminal process." We're coming up on seven months since the shooting — a point that residents across the city have held as absurd.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty has said repeatedly that the case — the county's investigation of which only recently concluded — will be sent to the Grand Jury. 

"We are grateful that the wheels of justice are starting to turn," the Rice family publicly stated.