quote:
Details of Benton Harbor (Michigan) riots emerging
Posted: 06/17/2003 05:03 pmSeveral police cars were severely damaged by bricks and bottles thrown from the mob
Monday night a Benton Harbor neighborhood turned into a mob scene. Hundreds of angry people crowded the neighborhood near Pavone and Empire to protest the death of 28-year-old Terrance Shurn of Benton Harbor.
He was killed after his motorcycle crashed following a high-speed police chase.
The riots lasted for close to six hours but the unrest began much earlier in the evening. It started at 7 PM Michigan time when more than 100 people turned out for Benton Harbor's city commission meeting because they were upset with the chase involving Benton Township police, which ended in Benton Harbor.
Rioting begins
After the meeting, around 11 PM, the rioting began near Empire and Broadway Streets. Eventually the mob grew to 300 to 400 people.
The mob threw bricks and bottles at police cars causing thousands of dollars in damages. Police decided to suit up in riot gear.
By about 1 AM a vacant house was set on fire by people in the crowd.
This is encouraging.