Sharpton Calls for justice in case of Black Man Run Down by NYPD Police Cruiser

From [HERE] It was standing room only at the National Action Network Headquarters in Harlem on Saturday, as the Reverend Al Sharpton and community members turned out in a show of support for Laverne Dobbinson.

Her son, Tamon Robinson, was a Brooklyn man who allegedly died from his injuries after he was hit by a police car. "We deserve justice because my son did not deserve to die like that," said Dobbinson.

Police say Robinson was in the street allegedly stealing paving stones when they spotted him early on April 12. That theft charge was later dropped. His family says he was mowed down by police in front of his home in Canarsie.

Doctors told them Robinson was brain dead by the time he was brought to Brookdale Hospital, where he later died.

"Police are to be trained if they feel like a crime is suspected. How you apprehend criminals? You do not engage in hit-and-runs in police vehicles," said Sharpton.

The family's attorney, Sanford Rubenstein, said his clients want the officers involved to be indicted, not just for the incident, but also for the alleged actions that followed.

"If a police officer committed a criminal act, that police officer must be prosecuted," said Rubenstein. "In addition, according to witnesses, that car was moved before police investigators got there. If there was an attempt to cover up what happened, that must be prosecuted as well."

A day after hundreds of family and friends gathered for Tamon Robinson's funeral in East New York, his mother was flanked by City Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblyman Hakim Jeffries, rivals for the 10th District's open congressional seat who joined forces for this cause.

Sharpton said the supporters will continue to fight until Robinson's family gets answers.

"We're getting ready to turn up the movement with this case, because we are going to blow the facts out, said Sharpton.

Family members say they are planning a rally at the Bay View Houses, in Robinson's neighborhood, in the coming weeks.