Man shot by cop testifies to grand jury

A Harris County grand jury on Monday heard from 23-year-old Robert Tolan, who was shot in the chest in front of his home by a Bellaire police officer, leading to accusations of racial profiling.

A former minor league ballplayer, Tolan was stopped in front of his home on New Year’s Eve because police believed the vehicle he was driving was stolen. After Tolan protested officers’ treatment of his mother, who had come outside after hearing the disturbance, he was shot by police Sgt. Jeff Cotton.

The vehicle was not stolen and Tolan has said he was shot because of his race. He is black. Tolan’s family and lawyers say he was stopped only because he and his cousin, a passenger, were racially profiled.