BELLAIRE, Texas – A veteran Bellaire police sergeant is on paid administrative leave after shooting an unarmed man, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Robbie Tolan's family has asked the Harris County district attorney to charge Sgt. Jeff Cotton with a crime.
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Tolan, 23, and his brother were returning home early Wednesday when Cotton approached them in the 800 block of Woodstock Street as part of a stolen vehicle investigation.
The problem -- the vehicle was not stolen.
"The vehicle turned out not to be stolen. Why they thought it was stolen or how it got stolen, I'm not clear yet," Bellaire Police Department Assistant Chief Byron Holloway said.
The family maintains the officer did not initially properly identify himself. The situation escalated quickly as other family members came out of the house.
The sergeant fired three shots. One of them hit Tolan.
"All of you picture this happening to your son or daughter then you can probably understand how I feel," Tolan's father, Bobby Tolan, said
Bobby Tolan said his son wanted to follow in his footsteps as a professional baseball player. Bobby Tolan won a World Series in 1967 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Tolans have hired lawyers.
"There is no doubt in my mind that if these would have been white kids, this does not happen," attorney David Berg said.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office is investigating the case. Cotton has a clean record, according to Holloway.
Robbie Tolan is recovering at Ben Taub Hospital with a chest wound. At last check, he was in fair condition.