Death threat during Cleveland officer trial alarms judge

CLEVELAND (AP) — A judge says he wants tighter security for a Cleveland police officer standing trial for shooting unarmed suspects after a death threat against the officer was overheard outside the courtroom.

A security officer alerted Judge John O’Donnell of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to the threat today.

The officer reported a man outside the courtroom threatened he would kill Officer Michael Brelo himself if he wasn’t convicted. The judge questioned the man, who denied making the threat.

The 31-year-old Brelo is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of Marissa Williams and Timothy Russell, who were killed by police in a 137-shot barrage after a high-speed chase in November 2012.

Prosecutors say Brelo jumped on the hood of the car and fired after the two were no longer a threat.