"Brown is the primary suspect in this incident." - police report

[conservaphobe]

FUCK THE FERGUSON PD

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly

[avebury]

1. Listening to the CNN Analyst

it sounds like the police are trying to set the officer up for self defense. That does not work for the last volley of killing shots. He was of no threat to the officer, had his hands up and made no effort to approach the cop.

[merrily]

4. They already claimed the shooter's face was all swollen.

It's always that the cop had no rational, safe choice.

[merrily]

2. Give the cop a medal for sparing the kid and his family the expense and agony of a trial.

Humanitarian impulses like that should not go unrewarded.

[Orsino]

3. "You have the right to remain silent." n/t

[justiceischeap]

5. Why has Dorian Johnson not been arrested?

If Mike Brown and later identified 2nd suspect Dorian Johnson did this, why is Dorian Johnson not under arrest?

[conservaphobe]

6. Because they are full of shit. nt

[Rex]

19. Because they KNOW it is a lie and that the person in the video is not Brown.

This is the same PD that was arresting reporters and refusing to identify themselves...gee if they act illegally in this instance, you think maybe they will do something criminal to keep a lid on their racist PD?

[MohRokTah]

34. It is Brown in the video.

It wasn't a robbery.

It took them days to put together this bullshit story. The store clerk got in Michael Brown's face and he reacted to it.

Notice, there aren't "boxes of cigars" in anybody's hands as they leave.

BTW, you can tell it was brown because he's wearing the same clothes as he was wearing while lying dead in the street for hours.

[Rex]

53. Yeah looking at the two pictures, what stands out are the shoes.

The rest of his clothes are pretty generic, but the sandals are unique looking. It is a bullshit story, that photo of him laying in his own blood...

It does look like the exact same clothes I will give you that, must have taken them days to string together a story...but it still will not help them...this is going to be a federal case by the time all is said and done.

[MohRokTah]

54. It took six days.

Look at other shootings of unarmed black men.

The guy in New York, we knew day one they stopped him for "illegally selling cigarettes".

ANY TIME, they always link the victim to a crime or gang.

Why didn't the Ferguson police say Brown was a suspect in a robbery on day one?

[Rex]

55. They had to scour their records and documents to find something on him.

Sounds like they haven't been following SOPs, since day one of opening the PD.

[Are_grits_groceries]

60. This wasn't at the Quik Trip either. nt

[Ms. Toad]

91. It was Brown (and Johnson).

Johnson admitted it through his attorney.

[hamsterjill]

21. That was my thought, as well.

I'd be interested in their explanation about this, but haven't heard anything relating to the issue.

[MoonchildCA]

47. This is exactly what I just asked my husband.

It makes no sense to me.

[redqueen]

52. Good question.

[Ms. Toad]

89. Watch the tapes

Johnson put the pack of cigarellos he was handed back on the counter, and was not a participant in the later shoving.

[Hayabusa]

7. As Anonymous said

it's interesting that the photos don't clearly show the face.

[LisaL]

9. I don't know what exactly is interesting about that.

This looks like a typical surveillance store video.

[cleduc]

45. If Mike had only been wearing a Hoodie ...

... he might be alive today ....
(/sarcasm)

[Faux pas]

8. Hmmm

why don't I believe any of this? Maybe because it too the PD six days to come up with it?

[questionseverything]

12. even if brown was involved in a robbery

execution is not the proper remedy

[Faux pas]

25. Too true.

Looks more like shop lifiting to me. Not hearing or seeing anything on msnbc on this.

[Ms. Toad]

92. The shoving made it robbery, under Missouri law. n/t

[Faux pas]

97. The shove looked bad, for sure.

Shooting the unarmed shover is so much worse. I'm sure we agree on that.

[Ms. Toad]

98. Absolutely.

All the robbery incident would add would be a justifiably heightened suspicion during their initial encounter, based on aggressive behavior in the immediately preceding half hour - but even then that is ONLY IF the policeman knew about it - because police are entitled to use what they know about someone's immediately preceding behavior to make life and death decisions on which their (or others') lives depend. But - from what the police captain said, it is likely the officer did not know, so it adds nothing even to that initial shot which must be judged based on whether the officer grabbed Brown - or Brown lunged into the car at the officer. If Brown acted aggressively, the first shot might have been justified.

Beyond that, neither the robbery, nor anything else I have heard, provides any justification at all for the second shot (or shots) while he was running away or the third shot (or shots) after Brown turned around, raised his hands, and said don't shoot.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

10. Another black man killed over a small amount of tobacco?

Whether or not Brown is or is not a person who stole 'a box of Swisher Sweets', what's with murdering black guys over petty crimes?

(And was Brown wearing long shorts, and flip flops with striped socks when he was shot?)

[LisaL]

11. Since the photos show the suspect assaulting a clerk,

this wouldn't be classified as petty theft.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

14. I said 'petty crimes'. I was using the word simply as a generic adjective

meaning 'minor', not as a specific legal charge.

[LisaL]

16. Seriously? You think pushing a store clerk around in this fashion is minor?

Whoever the suspect is.

[merrily]

27. Point is, it's not a death penalty offense.

And even if it were, a cop is not judge, jury and executioner.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

48. I've been pushed around more than that

and nobody ever suggested I should file charges.

On TV they did just say it actually is a felony - 'strongarm robbery'.

But that was less physical than any of the fights I got into in my teens and twenties, and no one ever got arrested.

Take away the theft, and yeah, that was pretty damn minor as far as physical altercations go.

[Johonny]

23. But the clerk threatend him first.

Came out and stood between him and the door with something in his hand. Then Brown pushes him out of the way. Was the clerk preventing theft or was something else happening said in the exchange? No one will know now as the suspect is dead. I imagine the incident might get Johnson and the clerk to talk a little more about the incident. Until then the video and the report show an altercation started by the clerk... it is right there in the report.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

31. Those pictures are not conclusive that the person is Brown. nt

[LisaL]

37. Clothing seems to match.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

44. Actually, a link to a pic of Brown after he was killed (posted down-thread) seems to match the

person in the video stills. However, we need to see the video to put this into more context.

Regardless of whether or not this was a "robbery" or shoplifting, it was not justification for having a cop trying to pull him through a patrol car window and to then murder him for reacting to that assault.

I now want to hear more from Johnson because he said the interaction began with Wilson ordering them out of the middle of the street, not because he suspected them of "robbery".

[bobduca]

65. fucking racist trolls

[justiceischeap]

15. He was wearing long shorts

but I can't tell from the available photos if he was wearing flip-flops when he was killed.

[LisaL]

17. Did you see the red cap in the photos?

[justiceischeap]

18. I saw what looked like a red cap or a sticker on the door

can't tell from surveillance images (which are always poor quality).

[Ms. Toad]

93. Count the stripes in his socks -

There's 5 white stripes in both the store surveillance and the death shot. The only reason you can tell they are flip flops in the surveillance photo (since neither are very clear) is because he was moving his foot so his heel separated from the back of the flip flops - otherwise I would have said both were high top tennis shoes.

[RockaFowler]

13. What took them so long to bring this information to light?

My BS detector went way up when I heard this info this morning

Not buying it

Oh and didn't his mother say she saw him walking home shortly before he was murdered??

[sufrommich]

20. Because then they would have to admit that

stealing a box of cigars is punishable by death in their precinct. It's a huge over reaction by the police and they know it.

[uponit7771]

24. yes ... she saw he running RIGHT before he was shot in the head a couple of times

[VanGoghRocks]

72. I've had this feeling almost from Day 1 that the Ferguson PD 'makes it up as it goes along,'

a feeling that has been confirmed by the story today about Ferguson cops arresting the wrong guy, beating the s*it out of him and then charging him with destruction of property when his blood got on the officers' uniforms.

I hope the U.S. Attorney looks very carefully at the issue of whether the Ferguson PD has engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct justice in deciding what charges, if any, to bring and whom to charge.

[Jamastiene]

22. As usual, surveillance photos look like Loch Ness Monster pictures

to me. If I strain really hard, I can make out something happening, but no way could I identify anyone in any of those grainy, blurry, crappy pictures and videos. If Big Brother has surveillance that can zoom in and see a gnat's nuts at 4000k or more, why can store surveillance camera be at least 1080p and be a tad bit clearer. Those two people in those pictures could be anyone.

Nice try, overly militarized cops on a racist rampage. What will you try next?

[jberryhill]

68. Backlighting

It's bright outside and with the camera pointed at the door, anything in the store is going to be backlit.

It's not simply a matter of resolution, but the exposure conditions are challenging.

[MohRokTah]

26. I believe that may be Michael Brown in the surveillance video.

There is a picture of his body at the following link (I refuse to put the picture here):

http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/michael-brown/#prettyPhoto

My guess, there was no robbery. The story of the robbery was created after the fact. The altercation in the store become a "robbery".

[garagedoor]

43. The Clothing Does Not Match

The body of Mike Brown has tan pants on. The perp has upper calf length SHORTS on.

[jberryhill]

46. Where is the waistband of those "pants"?

Look again at the linked photo and answer that question.

[garagedoor]

51. Again, the video clothing isn't a match with the Dead Body

Enlarge the photo of the dead body of Michael Brown, as I have.

They are tan or dark chino pants over underwear which is blue.

This doesn't seem to match the clothing of the perpetrator in the store video.

[uponit7771]

49. EXACTLY!! The "sag" of the bottoms are the biggest tell tale its not brown

[WinkyDink]

28. Are the police releasing this, yet will not release the shooter-cop's name??

[LisaL]

30. The name was released already.

[WinkyDink]

32. It was my understanding the name was first revealed by sources other than the police.

[LisaL]

35. No, that's not accurate.

Anonymous released the name but it was a WRONG name.

[kirby]

29. CASE STATUS: Exceptionally Cleared

A police report that is "exceptionally cleared" means that the reported offense was 'solved' by means which did not include an arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator. In other words, the crime was solved - we know who did it - but no arrest was able to have been made.

[conservaphobe]

36. It is a violent act, but where's the proof that it's Michael Brown?

And since when is grabbing someone by the shirt collar punishable by death?

P.S. I look forward to this reply being to 'Name Removed'

[Lochloosa]

41. That was quick. I got to read the first post but not the second.

[conservaphobe]

42. I missed the second one as well.

However will we get through our day without his/her wisdom?

[Lochloosa]

70. Going to be tough but we'll make it.

[Cal Carpenter]

38. So stealing a box of swisher sweets is a death penalty offense

and the cop gets to be judge, jury & executioner?

Nice "mentality".

Whether or not Brown was the person involved here, his murder was still that - a murder.

[logosoco]

50. Well, they did also kill that guy in NYC for a tobacco related thing.

I guess the cops are really into people not using tobacco.

[Cal Carpenter]

58. Yeah, they're clearly looking out for people's health

[Beaverhausen]

39. Enjoy your stay

[Stellar]

56. All I see is a 'big black scary' guy...I guess that's the point.

To make this guy look as scary as possible, because that's all a 'white person' is supposed to notice. Doesn't matter if it's Michael Brown or not. 'They all look alike'...right?

[uppityperson]

57. I do not understand what this is saying. They are claiming Brown was in an altercation elswehere

earlier so it was ok to be shot, repeatedly, while walking down the street, then shot again in the back and with your hands up surrendering?

[AngryOldDem]

62. Used to be deadly force was never justified in this kind of situation.

Even, I believe, going back to common law days.

The times, they are a'changin', indeed.

And this is why this video is beginning to piss me off. People are using it to excuse what ultimately happened.

[Enrique]

67. no, they are not saying that

what they are doing is releasing the police report, which is what I have wanted them to do and many others here too.

A huge question remains why it took them so long, and whether what's in the report is true or not, but nowhere did they say the robbery justified the shooting.

[uponit7771]

80. this is the police report for the shooting. ..FPD are ahaholes

[AngryOldDem]

59. I wish we would stop buying into this misdirection.

Right now, the fucking convenience store and the fucking box of Swisher Sweets are NOT THE POINT.

Stop letting the Ferguson PD dictate where this is going.

[etherealtruth]

66. OK, so Brown was the primary suspect in what appears to be shop lifting

How does this explain or excuse anything that followed.

[cleduc]

76. I'm going to try to answer that carefully so I don't get pummeled or start trouble

It certainly doesn't excuse shooting a suspect to death who has their hands up, that's for sure - if that's what really happened as some allege.

But it might explain some aspect of or motivation for the original altercation that took place near the cruiser - if that's what really happened as some allege.

I'm suspicious of the conduct of the police here but I'm just trying to file this stuff away for consideration while we work our way towards the actual facts on what happened (as best as they can be determined) before trying to pass final judgement on the police or Mike Brown.

[etherealtruth]

84. The cop reportedly was not even aware that brown was a suspect

[cleduc]

85. Initially, no. He was concerned with them blocking the street. BUT

Chief Jackson said that the officer apparently noticed the stolen cigars as he drove off and backed up his cruiser which is when the altercation started.

[etherealtruth]

86. Oddly that detail was added MUCH later

My BS detector is very high on this one. it does appear that a set of explanations was pieced together after the murder

[cleduc]

88. So some of the media claims BUT

as of 7:16 AM - 10 Aug 2014 - the morning after the shooting, this was tweeted:

https://twitter.com/MichaelSkolnik/status/498473080227106816

Michael SkolnikVerified account
?@MichaelSkolnik
Ferguson police are only ones saying #MikeBrown stole something from store. Parents went to store + workers said they never called police.

The 911 calls suggest the workers did call but were afraid to publicly acknowledge it ... as it turned out, with good reason.

So a hunk of that detail about Brown as a robbery suspect was there within hours of the shooting. And that wasn't the only tweet or source about the robbery back then.

The national media didn't bother with it much but the local media did.

And in part, as a result, the mobs lashed out at the QuikTrip chain stores in the riots that followed.

Some of the problem here relates to the quality of media coverage.

[damnedifIknow]

69. A diversion from the real issue is all

Even if this is him it does not give the right to execute him in the street.

[intaglio]

71. Except the officer who had shot Brown had not seen these images

So the stopped him and shot him on the basis of a verbal description.

[LittleBlue]

73. That's definitely him

The clothes are the same. You couldn't find two guys with the same patterns/colors on his shirt, pants and shoes. He has the same stripes on his footwear and on the sleeve of his shirt.

Well damn. I guess I'll be waiting for the full story.

[uponit7771]

78. that's false on its face. .. this is common teen wear

[LittleBlue]

79. I don't think so

If you went around that area, I bet you'd be hard-pressed to find someone with the same colors for clothes, same patterns, same cuts, same hair and same body type.

That is 100% him unless he has a twin somewhere who coordinates outfits.

[uponit7771]

81. I live in one of those "areas" now, see it daily. .. common kid wear

[winter is coming]

87. +1. n/t

[Lochloosa]

74. Am I missing something here.

Wasn't the original reason for the stop was Brown was Jaywalking?

[morningfog]

75. Yep. This is the first mention of a cigar box bandit.

[cleduc]

90. Nope

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5396194

The police have been talking about Brown being a suspect for stealing the cigars since the outset

[morningfog]

94. That link does not say the police had been talking about Brown being a suspect for

stealing cigars since the outset.

[cleduc]

95. Again, here's the tweet quoted

that tweet says the police were the ONLY ones talking about Mike Brown being a suspect for stealing something from a store:

https://twitter.com/MichaelSkolnik/status/498473080227106816

Michael SkolnikVerified account
?@MichaelSkolnik
Ferguson police are only ones saying #MikeBrown stole something from store. Parents went to store + workers said they never called police.

A key thing to note is when that was tweeted:
7:16 AM - 10 Aug 2014 - the morning after the shooting

Now that particular link doesn't say "cigars". But the next one does:

https://twitter.com/TheePharoah/status/498225036478529536

Bruh.
?@TheePharoah
"@_vonteee_: Dude stupid for stealing them rellos got his ass wacked 😂😂🔫" cmon bruh.

Retweeted 2:51 PM - 9 Aug 2014 - less than 3 hrs after shooting and "rellos" is cigars

https://twitter.com/blueinmo/status/498250939413708800

tamara beinlich
?@blueinmo
@BrittanyNoble @CallOut4 they shot and killed a(black) teen for shopping lifting candy!

Tweeted 4:34 PM - 9 Aug 2014 - 4.5 hrs after shooting


https://twitter.com/MichaelSkolnik/status/498257849991299074

Michael SkolnikVerified account
?@MichaelSkolnik
Young man who was killed by police in Ferguson, MO is said to be Michael Brown. Allegedly he stole candy. Was to start college on Monday.

Tweeted 5:01 PM - 9 Aug 2014, 5 hours after shooting

Clearly, not long after the shooting, Brown was being named as a suspect for stealing. The folks in the store were not talking because they were afraid (and for good reason as theit QuikTrip stores in the areas were subsequently looted and burned. So the only party identified as a source for that allegation in those early hours was the Ferguson police.

[uponit7771]

77. YES! the cop hadn't even seen the report

[GeorgeGist]

82. Damn they're stupid.

The report date/time is BEFORE the 'incident' occurred.

[TorchTheWitch]

83. huh?

Johnson admitted to this incident. Fuck the PD for publicizing what Brown did at the store before they were stopped by the officer? Or am I supposed to believe that these two guys miraculously look exactly like Brown and Johnson and wearing the exact same clothes?

And yes, if you have the stomach to look at any of the photos of Brown after he was shot in the street (which I won't put here) it is the exact same clothing right down to the socks and sandals.

[cleduc]

96. and the red cap ...

[Avalux]

99. IRRELEVANT. n/t