Police in Ferguson, Missouri, released body camera and security videos of a man on Tuesday. The videos show the man charging at a police officer and hitting him hard on the head, seriously hurting him.
The event happened on Friday night during protests for the 10th anniversary of the shooting death of Michael Brown. Brown’s death was one of the high-profile cases across the country that started the black lives matter movement.
Police Chief Troy Doyle said at a news conference on Tuesday that video shows the suspect, 28-year-old Elijah Gantt from east st. Louis, Illinois, charging at officer travis brown. Brown and other officers were going to arrest protesters who had broken parts of a fence near the police station.
Police say Officer Brown got hit in the head very hard and had to go to the ground.
It wasn’t clear Tuesday night if Gantt had hired a lawyer. The local public defender’s office did not answer the phone right away.
A group of protesters met near the police station to remember Michael Brown, the black 18-year-old who was killed by a white police officer ten years ago while he was not armed. After the teen’s death, there were protests and other problems for more than a week.
Officer brown’s head hit the ground hard when he was hit by a man who was running at the press briefing on Tuesday. The video showed the attack from two different views.
“Just watch the video. The police officer is there ready to try to catch that guy.” there wasn’t a crash. He’s just standing there. This person hit my friend like he was a football player. “It was… Silly,” doyle said.
Police said brown was out of it and lying on his back, with the man lying on his chest. Other cops quickly arrived and jumped on the attacker.
Do you agree with what happened to my cop or this act? If not, you are part of the problem, doyle said.
Doyle said earlier, after the officer was hurt, that the community has used the ferguson police as a “Punching bag” since 2014.
He said that the police department had done what the activists wanted by giving cops body cameras and training in how to deal with implicit bias and crises. Doyle also said that the police officer who killed Michael Brown no longer works for the company.
Doyle said that Ferguson needs a cop like travis brown.
Doyle said, “He wanted to be a part of the change.” “He wanted to make a difference in our town.” that’s the kind of police person we want in our area. What does happen? He is beaten up.”
Police in St. Louis County say Gantt kicked another officer in the head and was also charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He was already charged with assault.
Bell said that another person who was accused of breaking the fence was charged with damage to property. Others were charged with different crimes, such as assault, property damage, and fighting arrest.