Police Complaint Center

LIMA, Ohio --

A white police officer has been charged in the shooting death of a black woman during a January drug raid, an altercation that touched off protests and discussions about race relations.

A grand jury charged Sgt. Joseph Chavalia with negligent homicide in the death of Tarika Wilson, 26, who was killed in a SWAT raid at her house while looking for her boyfriend, the special prosecutor said Monday.

When she was shot, Wilson was holding her 1-year-old son, who was also wounded. Chavalia was charged with negligent assault for the injuries to the boy, who required his finger to be amputated.

Wilson's family and Lima's NAACP office said the misdemeanor charges against Chavalia should have been more severe.

"When you take aim and shoot someone with your gun, I don't see how it's negligent," said Ivory Austin II, brother of Tarika Wilson.

"No one's above the law, even if he serves it. Don't separate the police from the people. We are all equal in the society. Treat the police like you would treat the common man."

A message seeking comment was left for the police chief. There is no telephone listing for Chavalia in the Lima area.

Little else is known about what happened during the raid. Police said Wilson's 31-year-old boyfriend, who was arrested, was the target of a drug investigation.

Many citizens and civil rights leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, demanded that Chavalia and police officials who planned the raid be held accountable.

Jason Upthegrove, president of the Lima NAACP, said the group will ask the FBI and Justice Department to determine whether the case was handled fairly.