Jurors Find Quanell X Guilty

• Activist Fined $300, Sentenced To Community Service

Community activist Quanell X was convicted Monday of fleeing a police officer, a misdemeanor, in connection with the surrender of a police-shooting suspect. Jurors got the case at 12:20 p.m. and reached a verdict approximately five hours later. The charge stemmed from the June 11 incident when police said Quanell X, born as Quanell Ralph Evans, refused to pull over during the surrender of suspected police shooter, Derrick Forney, 24. The 33-year-old activist maintained that he thought police were escorting him downtown to turn in Forney. Quanell X supporters said the trial was a waste of taxpayer dollars. "My reaction is -- that was a compromise. They tried Quanell X on a felony. It was a waste of taxpayers' money. It was abuse of the prosecutor's discretionary powers. It was a conflict of interest because she's the one that accepted the charges and she tried the case. I just think this was a complete waste of time and they, the prosecution, threw in the lesser charge in the closing argument. So what we know is that in fact, Quanell X was found not guilty of the felony," said Minster Robert Muhammad. The activist showed no emotion as the verdict was read. [more]