Many black leaders and activists expressed surprise and relief at Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen's decision to throw out indictments against the city's highest-ranking black police officer and submit the case to a second grand jury.

        The leaders, who criticized the prosecutor two days earlier for indicting Lt. Col. Ron Twitty, applauded his move to counter increasing public perception that the grand jury process had been tainted. Mr. Allen's action, they said, has brought a community at its boiling point down to a simmer — for the time being.

        “I think this is fair, that is, if you consider anything involved with this whole process fair,” said Sheila Adams, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati. “This just didn't look good. There were so many questions raised, I don't think there was really anything else he could do.”

        The prosecutor's decision came as questions were raised about the involvement of an assistant city solicitor as foreman in the first jury.

        Mr. Allen said during a press conference Friday that he saw no other way to address the community's concerns than to have the case heard by another grand jury.

        While Mr. Allen said his actions were in the interest of fairness, some questioned whether the prosecutor had more of a personal stake in his decision.

        “I think asking a judge to review the case and turning it over to a second grand jury is an attempt to cover his own behind,” said William Kirkland, a Bond Hill activist. “He is asking the judge to do for him what he can't do for himself.”

        Rev. Rousseau O'Neal, pastor of Rockdale Baptist Church in Avondale, said the fact that Mr. Allen is seeking a second grand jury to pursue the charges indicates that he is out to get Col. Twitty.

        “With other police officers, you know good and well that the prosecution has narrowed down (the charges presented to a grand jury) to misdemeanors,” said Rev. O'Neal. “He has a history of protecting the police.”

        The Rev. Aaron Greenlea, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Silverton, said Mr. Allen played into the hands of his critics by not making sure that everyone on the jury was without conflict.

        “Mike Allen blew it, plain and simple,” said the Rev. Mr. Greenlea. “People are going to be looking closely at a lot of other grand juries that have been convened. Mistrust is written all over his office now.”

        Cecil Thomas, director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, said tossing out the indictments does help, but the outcome of Lt. Col. Twitty's case still lingers. Mr. Thomas said there is still a strong belief that Lt. Col. Twitty is innocent and anything short of a “no bill” from the second grand jury will still draw fire.

        “This is a small step in solving what could potentially be a giant problem,” Mr. Thomas said. “If things continue to flow in the direction that they were flowing earlier in the week, it could still be a major problem.”

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