YOUNGSTOWN Panel considers actions in racism case

The commission finds itself in a difficult position.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city human relations commission must decide whether to pursue a racial discrimination case against the FBI.
A settlement that was to be worked out is now off the table.
A couple of board members and the city law director will review the case and decide whether to press it, said William M. Carter, commission executive director.
Last month, commissioners decided to broker a conciliation agreement between the FBI and Jesse McQueen, 26, a black city resident.
But McQueen has since hired a lawyer. The lawyer advised McQueen to pursue the discrimination case through the commission but not make any agreements, Carter said.
McQueen filed a complaint with the commission late last year.
In December, he mistakenly was confronted by members of the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. McQueen says their actions during the traffic stop made him fear he would be shot and killed.
The local FBI office oversees the task force, which arrests those wanted by police.
In October, FBI Special Agent John Kane, who heads the bureau's local office, apologized for the mistake on behalf of all the officers involved.
The two sides talked about ways of making police more sensitive to the feelings of people they confront.
Previous case
A court case early last month involving the task force and another young, black city man seemingly pushed the issue from settlement to possible lawsuit, Carter said.
A federal court jury in Akron acquitted the man on charges filed after a shootout with task force members. The man said the officers didn't identify themselves and that he shot at them in self-defense.
Carter described the difficult position in which the commission finds itself.
The commission investigates discrimination cases. Rarely are civil lawsuits involved. The commission's finding in the case likely will become part of any lawsuit McQueen might file, Carter said.
Nonetheless, McQueen filed his complaint with the commission well before a civil suit became a consideration, Carter said. The commission's dropping the case now would be unfair to McQueen, he said.
Commission members Warren Harrell and Carmen Bruno -- a retired police captain -- will talk with Law Director John McNally IV about whether McQueen's case fits within the commission's jurisdiction, Carter said.
A decision probably will be made next month, he added.
rgsmith@vindy.com