Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen announced plans today to get tough with rioters. Allen said a special 17-member Riot Prosecution Task Force will prosecute all felony cases arising from the recent violence.

        A team of 11 veteran assistant prosecutors, along with the support of investigators, the grand jury division and others, will focus on such offenses as aggravated riot, aggravated arson, burglary, felonious assault and ethnic intimidation.

        The task force held an organizational meeting Thursday to consider presenting at least 34 defendants to a grand jury. They had been arrested on felony charges. At least that many more cases are pending, Mr. Allen said.

        “I think it's important to single these cases out,” Mr. Allen said. “The public needs to know this conduct is not going to be tolerated.”

        Mr. Allen's office also is taking the police shooting case to a grand jury Monday. The panel, which meets in secret, will determine whether enough evidence exists to support charges against Officer Steven Roach, who overnight Saturday shot and killed Timothy Thomas, 19, after a pursuit in Over-the Rhine.

        The shooting touched off protests which grew into two nights of unrest, rioting and looting in certain parts of the city.

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