On Tuesday, police in Ferguson, Missouri, released new videos from protests last week marking the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. The footage includes an incident showing an officer severely injured.
Police Chief Troy Doyle stated the body camera footage and video from a nearby business reveal the suspect charging at Officer Travis Brown near a sidewalk during Friday night’s protests.
“My officer was clearly charged and violently hit by this individual,” Doyle said at a news conference on Tuesday. The videos also depict officers detaining the suspect, 28-year-old Elijah Gantt, while pushing other protesters away from Brown, Doyle added.
Ten years ago in Ferguson, Missouri, anti-black police violence took the life of Michael Brown.
Increasingly militarized policing is a cost of the post-9/11 wars. pic.twitter.com/k2YuLp4cnj
— The Costs of War Project (@CostsOfWar) August 8, 2024
Brown sustained a severe brain injury and remains in critical condition at the hospital. A prayer vigil is planned for him at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the police station.
Friday marked the 10th anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown, 18, by a Ferguson police officer on 9 August 2014. Brown’s death, while walking with a friend, sparked sustained protests and bolstered the Black Lives Matter movement, bringing police use of force against unarmed Black Americans to the forefront of US policy and politics.
The protests on Friday took place after a weeklong tribute by the Brown family to Michael Brown. The incident involving the officer occurred after protesters blocked streets near the police station. Although demonstrations were peaceful for most of the evening, some individuals began shaking the station’s fence, Doyle said at a Saturday news conference.
Police did not initially respond, Doyle mentioned, but the fence shaking persisted until protesters broke the bottom sections of the fence and damaged property in the police department’s parking lot.
Doyle then deployed an arrest team to address the property destruction. Several protesters assaulted the team, Doyle reported. As Travis Brown attempted to arrest someone who had damaged and stolen part of the fence, the suspect charged at him violently, causing a head injury.
One of the released videos shows several individuals shaking a fence, seemingly to break into the police station, causing $3,000 in damages. The department also provided body camera footage of another officer responding to the incident calmly.
On Saturday, Doyle noted that only about four officers from 2014 are still with the department. “This is a new department. It doesn’t make sense for the current officers to suffer through this,” he remarked.
The suspect, Gantt, faces five charges, including resisting arrest, first-degree property damage, and two fourth-degree assault charges, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. On Tuesday, authorities added a misdemeanor assault charge for kicking another officer in the head.
Gantt is held on a $500,000 cash-only bond and must remain 1,500 feet away from the Ferguson Police Department. It is unclear if Gantt has legal representation.
Two other officers were injured on Friday, one with an ankle injury and another with abrasions, the police chief reported.
Another unnamed defendant faces multiple charges, including felony property damage, attempting to disarm an officer, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor assault. This suspect allegedly tried to grab an officer’s weapon from its holster, according to St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, who said the investigation is ongoing and more charges may follow.
Other individuals arrested during the protests face charges of property destruction and resisting arrest.
Bell commented on the situation, saying it “could have been a lot worse,” and expressed concern over the uncertainty and potential danger officers face in such crowds.
Bell concluded, “We have an officer fighting for his life, and we must ask – for what?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened in Ferguson during the protests last week?
An officer was severely injured after being charged at by a suspect. Several arrests were made.
Who was the officer injured during the protests?
The injured officer was Travis Brown, who suffered a severe brain injury and remains in critical condition.
Who is the suspect in the officer’s assault?
The suspect is 28-year-old Elijah Gantt, who faces multiple charges including resisting arrest and property damage.
What were the protests in Ferguson about?
The protests marked the 10-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s killing by a Ferguson police officer.
How did the police respond to the protests?
Police deployed an arrest team after protesters damaged property. Several individuals were arrested for various offenses.