CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted rhythm & blues artist Gerald Levert (search) on assault charges after a city prosecutor said there wasn't evidence to sustain the charges following a confrontation with police during a traffic stop.
Prosecutor Anthony Jordan said earlier this month that there was no evidence the singer caused serious physical harm to patrolmen Ronald W. Ross and Daniel Lentz. Levert, 38, was charged with drunken driving, impeding traffic, obstructing police business and resisting arrest.
On Tuesday, a county grand jury indicted Levert on two charges of felonious assault and a charge of obstructing official business.
A message was left seeking comment at Jordan's office on Tuesday.
Police said Levert and a passenger in his car, James Austin Jr. of Canton, intervened when authorities stopped a friend of Levert's for speeding at 12:45 a.m. Feb. 25.
Ross said he hurt his wrist and Lentz said he injured his shoulder while trying to detain Austin. Officials said the officers missed work the day after the confrontation.
The grand jury indicted Austin, 27, on the same charges as Levert and a charge of assault on a police officer.
Levert, of Newbury, about 20 miles east of Cleveland, is scheduled to be arraigned on March 22 in Common Pleas Court.
Levert is the son of Eddie Levert, a founding member of The O'Jays (search), a longtime R&B group. Gerald Levert became lead singer of the trio Levert (search) in 1985. He began his solo recording career in 1991.
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