Cleveland's Michael Brelo NOT GUILTY of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams' manslaughter

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Michael Brelo, 31, was acquitted of two voluntary manslaughter charges
Shot at Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30, in November 2012
Pair died during a 137-shot barage by police after a high-speed chase
He was one of 13 who fired, but was the only one criminally charged
Protests began around the city as soon as the acquittal was revealed
Cleveland Cavalier's LeBron James as called for calm
Report by Department of Justice condemned Cleveland Police for their excessive use of force in December

Published: 10:14 EST, 23 May 2015 | Updated: 15:46 EST, 23 May 2015

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The Cleveland cop who jumped onto the hood of a car and fired 15 shots at an unarmed couple killed during a gunfight with police has been found not guilty.

Michael Brelo, 31, broke down in tears as he acquitted in a Cleveland, Ohio, courtof two counts of voluntary manslaughter for the deaths of Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30.

The pair died during a 137-shot barage by police after a high-speed chase in November 2012.

Judge John O'Donnell said it was difficult to determine who delivered the fatal blow, adding that Brelo acted responsibly on the night of the incident.

The trial, which began on April 6, took place as high-profile killings of unarmed black men by white police officers continue to pile pressure on U.S. law enforcement.

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Michael Brelo, 31, was acquitted at a court in Cleveland, Ohio, of two counts of voluntary manslaughter for the deaths of Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30. He broke down in tears as the verdict was read

Williams (left) and Russell (right) were both killed during the 137-bullet gunfight in November 2012

Protestors block a downtown intersection and yell at Cleveland Police officers following Brelo's verdict

Before issuing his verdict, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell noted the recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore over the deaths of black suspects but said he would not 'sacrifice' Brelo to an angry public if the evidence did not merit a conviction.

'Guilty or not guilty, the verdict should be no cause for a civilized society to celebrate or riot,' he said.

According to Cleveland.com, the Russell family was 'extremely disappointed' with the verdict'

Community and city leaders braced for the possibility of unrest in response to the verdict, which came as investigators work toward making a decision on whether charges will be filed in the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was carrying a pellet gun when shot by a white rookie officer late last year.

'We will get justice,' said Art McCoy of the Black Man Army, a coalition of black leaders. 'We are not happy with this verdict.'

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is not commenting directly on the acquittal, but he is expressing hope the city will remain calm.

The King tells reporters that 'violence is not the answer, and it's all about trying to find a solution, for good or for bad.'

His team are playing Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final in Cleveland on Sunday night.

Shortly after the verdict was reached, about 30 sheriff's deputies stood in front of the courthouse bearing clear shields as protesters with bullhorns chanted. One demonstrator bowed his head with hands folded in front of the phalanx of deputies, praying in silence.

Demonstrators block a highway as protests and marches started to spread around the city

Alfredo Williams, left, and Renee Robinson, cousins of Malissa Williams who is one of the victims, protests outside the courthouse. Williams said he will never trust the police again and, if his house is broken, will take matters into his own hands

A pictured released by prosecutors shows the bullet-riddled Chevy Malibu the pair were driving on the night they died. Around 100 police officers were involved in the high speed chase earlier that night

The deputies then moved inside the entrance of the justice center, and the plaza in front of the building was soon cordoned off.

Brelo briefly stepped outside with his attorneys but, for his own protection, he was moved back inside.

Hours after the verdict protesters blocked a highway in Cleveland that runs downtown and along Lake Erie - forming a line along the highway, blocking traffic in both directions.

About 200 people also gathered for a mock funeral to protest the acquittal of a Cleveland police officer in the deaths of two unarmed suspects.

Dozens of people walked in a peaceful procession carrying a black, plywood coffin and softly singing 'I'm going up yonder, we're marching, we're marching.'

Others also staged a funeral around a mock casket which mourners pretended held the body of youngster rice.

Sister of Timothy Russell says Brelo will ultimately face justice

Protestors sing in front of a mock casket for Tamir Rice - the 12-year-old boy who was shot by a Cleveland police officer while holding a toy gun in November 2014

One man holds his hands in the air as he walks past a police officer on a motorcycle

Some carried signs saying 'Will I Be Next?' and 'I Can't Breathe' and 'Freddie Gray Lynched.'

On Saturday Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams confirmed Brelo will remain on unpaid suspension until a critical incident report into his actions is completed.

He added that officers will continue to monitor the situation in the city to ensure there situation doesn't get out of hand.

Marcia Fudge, who represents Ohio's 11th congressional district, said the verdict is a setback for justice.

She said in a statement: 'The verdict is another chilling reminder of the broken relationship between the Cleveland Police Department and the community it serves.'

The politicians said the amount of bullets fired by the group of Cleveland officers as 'extreme, excessive and unnecessary.'

She added: 'We still have a long way to go toward racial equality and justice in Ohio, and in the entire United States of America.'

Brelo was the lone officer among the 13 who fired their weapons that night who was charged criminally because prosecutors say he continued firing four seconds after the other officers had stopped shooting.

The officer could have faced 22 years in prison if convicted on both counts.

Cleveland officer not guilty in shooting of unarmed suspects

Brelo hugs his attorney, Patrick DíAngelo, after the not guilty verdict in his trial

He put his head in his hands as he was acquitted for his role in the bullet barage that killed the unarmed pair

County Common Pleas Court Judge John O'Donnell points to mannequins marked with the gunshot wounds

People protest outside the house of Prosecutor Timothy McGinty who brought charges against Brelo

The crowd held placards as they marched towards the attorney's home

Earlier in the trial, Brelo's attorney Patrick D'Angelo conceded that his tactics could be called into question given that Brelo exposed himself to danger when he stepped onto the hood of a beat-up Chevy Malibu.

But Brelo and 12 officers who shot into the car in November 2012 had ample reason to believe that Russell and Williams were shooting at them, he said.

D'Angelo has insisted he doesn't think what Brelo and the other officers did that night was heroic.

More than 100 Cleveland police officers in five dozen cars were involved in the chase at some point.

It started after the car backfired outside a Cleveland police station. Officers feared someone in the car had just fired a gun.

When the chase finally came to an end, the pair were shot more times than Bonnie and Clyde.

In December, the U.S. Justice Department concluded Cleveland police officers too often violate people's civil rights because of inadequate training and a lack of supervision and accountability.

Cleveland mayor urges calm after Michael Brelo verdict

A view of the mockup of a crime scene showing the car positions during the manslaughter trial for a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 10

'Discipline is so rare that no more than 51 officers out of a sworn force of 1,500 were disciplined in any fashion in connection with a use of force incident over a three-and-a half-year period,' the report said.

Some of the worrying findings included:

— Officers fired guns at people who did not pose 'an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to officers or others.'

— Officers used guns in a 'careless and dangerous manner,' including hitting suspects in the head with their firearms and firing in ways that place innocent bystanders in danger.

— Officers used stun guns and pepper spray instead of trying to de-escalate situations.

— Officers punched suspects who have been handcuffed 'as punishment' after a person struggled with an officer or did not comply with demands.

— Officers arrested and assaulted mentally ill people after family members called police for help.

— Officers reported receiving little supervision, guidance, and support, leaving them to determine for themselves how to perform their jobs.

— Supervisors endorse questionable and unlawful conduct. Investigations of officers' use of force appear to be designed to justify officers' actions.

— The department is often antagonistic toward the community it serves. A large sign hanging in one station identified it as a 'forward operating base,' a war zone military term.