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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 12, 1993                   TAG: 9302120178
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHATTANOOGA, TENN.                                LENGTH: Short

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CHOKE-HOLD OFFICERS SUSPENDED

Four of six white officers involved in the death of a black truck driver who was stopped on suspicion of drunken driving were suspended with pay Thursday, an official said.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department initially had declined to take any action against the officers involved in the death of Larry Isaac Powell, who died Feb. 5.

"We're trying to keep a lid on things," Chief Deputy Jim Hammond told reporters Thursday. "There are absolutely no facts to indicate that there's . . . any type of racism involved."

But Charles Love, president of the Chattanooga Urban League, said it was unfortunate that it took a meeting with black leaders to get something done.

"Nonetheless, it's the step in the right direction," he said.

Hamilton County Medical Examiner Frank King ruled the death a homicide, saying Powell was killed by a police choke hold. - Associated Press

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