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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 29, 1993                   TAG: 9305290234
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ORLANDO, FLA.                                LENGTH: Medium

OFFICER ACQUITTED IN RACIALLY CHARGED FLA. TRIAL

A Miami policeman was acquitted Friday in a retrial for a black motorcyclist's 1989 shooting death, and scattered violence broke out in inner-city Miami neighborhoods. Police tried to keep it from turning into a repeat of the racial rioting that followed the slaying.

The jury also acquitted suspended officer William Lozano of manslaughter in the death of a motorcycle passenger killed when the cycle crashed. The 33-year-old Colombian-born officer had faced up to seven years in prison if convicted of both counts.

Police sealed off most of inner-city Miami amid scattered but persistent rock- and bottle-throwing, gunfire and other unrest in two predominantly black neighborhoods. No widespread violence was reported, however.

In the Overtown neighborhood, hit by three days of rioting four years ago, a crowd attacked a police substation but was dispersed by 150 officers. Police fired tear gas on a group of youths throwing debris. Two television reporters said a mob attacked them in their car.

There were reports of sporadic looting in neighboring Liberty City, said Metro-Dade police spokesman Juan Del Castillo, and minor fires also were reported in the area. A rescue squad was pinned down briefly by sniper fire, but no one was hurt.

By early today, Miami and Metro-Dade police reported at least 44 arrests on charges of disorderly conduct, inciting to riot or looting. Ten of those were accused of looting a Miami furniture store.

In Orlando, 230 miles north, the jury of three whites, two Hispanics and a black reached its verdicts after more than six hours of deliberations since Thursday evening. Circuit Judge W. Thomas Spencer had ordered the verdict sealed for four hours so police could deploy to possible trouble spots.

After the verdict was read in court shortly after 4:45 p.m., Lozano embraced two of his lawyers in a big bear hug and shed a tear. Many members of his family were in the courtroom, and they also cried.

Outside court, Lozano told reporters, "We do believe in the justice system and I'm very happy that I got my life back."

But Lozano's legal problems may not be over. U.S. Attorney Roberto Martinez immediately announced his office and prosecutors in Washington were reviewing the case for possible federal civil rights violations.

President Clinton's press secretary, Dee Dee Myers, said Clinton hasn't reviewed the issue.

In Miami, hundreds of police fanned out, moving squad cars to strategic intersections, and Humvees rolled on reconnaissance for riot-trained National Guardsmen standing by in an armory. Callers swamped rumor-control hot lines set up by police and community activists.

In Overtown, shouts of "Die Whitey!" could be heard on the streets after the verdicts, and some people warned white reporters to leave the area. Police helicopters hovered overhead in rainy weather.

Police sealed off two large sections of inner-city neighborhoods and blocked ramps off Interstate 95 and a state highway to prevent motorists from driving into troubled areas. Only residents were allowed in.

Officials canceled the Tampa Bay-Miami professional indoor football game at the Miami Arena, on the edge of Overtown.

by CNB