the only thing close to a certainty in this whole mess is that the city of Ferguson will struggle to recover. Cities that experienced widespread rioting and looting even as far back as the 1960's are almost all still dilapidated and rundown.
it is going to be extremely difficult to recover. Also, some of the same rioters six months from now will probably complain that owners aren't choosing their town to open up their new businesses.
some great analysis in the New Rebpulic on why so many people are pissed and distrustful.
1) The DA didn't recuse himself, even though he had close ties to the police, and his father was a cop who was shot and killed in the line of duty.
2) In October, the Washington Post reported a number of GJ leaks, nearly all favorable to Wilson.
3) The prosecutor had the option of pushing for an indictment and letting the world see what the GJ saw. He didn't. The level of proof necessary to get true bill and let a regular jury decide guilt is a tiny fraction of that needed to convict.
If the DA was trying to get a just, balanced outcome, he made a horrible series of errors, regardless of whether Wilson was actually guilty of anything. One can make a strong case, I think, that had he let this go to a jury, as he almost certainly could have, the bitterness and violence would have been diminished greatly.
And since thread this will ultimately go away anyway, a certain ignorant woman on this site and a certain smug, self-important person from PA who probably blew up the other thread can go bleep themselves. Link - ( New Window )
Meh, if you are talking about the articles by Vinik, Cohn or Schieber, none are attorneys, evidenced little if any understanding of the grand jury system or the difference between a grand jury and a trial, the DA's role with an investigative grand jury, the grand jury's role vis a vis the DA, or the law.
I doubt a full trial would have diminished anything if Wilson was acquitted.
it is going to be extremely difficult to recover. Also, some of the same rioters six months from now will probably complain that owners aren't choosing their town to open up their new businesses.
Actually, my guess is that a majority of the instigators/rioters will have moved on to their next target. Ferguson was little more than an opportunity. Some/most of the looters will be around, but they are opportunists and don't have on their agenda complaining about the lack of re-openings.
The folks who got destroyed and won't be back are the small business owners. Even if they wanted to return, they just got priced out of the market by their insurance. Not sure about the McDonalds. I don't know what franchisees get as far as insurance goes. You know, Montana might be able to shed some light on that one.
people think the DA allowed too much evidence (apparently anything that corroborated Wilson's testimony). And while I do understand that normally a prosecutor doesn't do that, I think what the DA was trying to accomplish was to have something beyond and investigation, but realized very early on that there was no case. The original narrative, while extremely inflammatory, was wrong, either intentionally or not. If this wasn't such a high profile case, there wouldn't have been anything beyond a cursory investigation.
So should the DA have pushed for an indictment and put the officer, the town and everyone through a circus of a trial? Not to mention the money it would cost the county or city.
People want a show, not justice.
The argument about announcing it during night instead of day Â
is stupid. First of all, they wanted to make sure innocent citizens had time to get home safe with out having to deal with rioting after work. Secondly, if the riots are going to last several days, then the time of day is irrelevant.
That's just a dumb talking point being floated out there and if anyone would really put any thought into it they would understand the two points I posted in the above paragraph.
Here is a list of some of the aspects the DA never addressed Â
These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
RE: Here is a list of some of the aspects the DA never addressed Â
These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
Whether his ties with this police department (I'm not sure how many fall in his jurisdiction) would warrant a refusal is a fair question. The fact that he has close ties with police generally being trumpeted as holding any significance whatsoever is idiotic. Any prosecutor by definition works closely with law enforcement, be it at the state/local or federal level. The fact that his father was a police officer killed in the line of duty is also not expressly relevant. Presumably he and his office have prosecuted police officers for misconduct before, probably successfully.
I think if it went to trial, Wilson would have been found not guilty. Simply because where was not enough evidence supporting a conviction while there was some eye witness testimony that would support Wilson's position. So, I think this would have been dragged out for a year and without the outcome that the locals would have wanted.
Here is something that I would like to understand. Why would the POTUS wait until 10pm to tell people on a TV interview to protest peacefully if they are already in the streets rioting and have yet to plug in the TVs that they have stolen? The people who had a chance to hear what he had to say most likely were never going to leave their homes that night. Think maybe that message should have gone out a lot sooner? Does anyone think it would have mattered?
These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1.) McCulloch said he gave them 5 different indictments to consider.
2.) Any evidence that he's been favorable to police officers in the past?
3.) What did you want him to do? Only give the false stories from those who said Brown had his hands up and was shot running away? Cmon. People want a full investigation and then they are upset because the Grand Jury was given a "mountain of evidence".
4.) The Chief said he didn't know about the robbery when he initially stopped Brown and Johnson. That is exactly in line with everything Wilson has said. He stopped them for walking in the road. He then noticed the cigars and noticed they matched the description, that's when he realized they were probably the ones who robbed the store. He was recorded saying he was out on canfield with two, and i believe he asked for another unit. The rest of his radio traffic did not go through, most likely because his radio channel was changed when Mike Brown was attacking him in the car.
Presumably. Fact checking for Dune - ( New Window )
Mentioning the 23 years makes it seem like he's had hundreds of opportunities.
He's had 5 opportunities. If you want to look at each of those cases and determine whether or not prosecution was warranted, go ahead. But to assume he did something wrong ONLY because none of those officers were prosecuted, well it's just ignorant.
These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1.) McCulloch said he gave them 5 different indictments to consider.
2.) Any evidence that he's been favorable to police officers in the past?
3.) What did you want him to do? Only give the false stories from those who said Brown had his hands up and was shot running away? Cmon. People want a full investigation and then they are upset because the Grand Jury was given a "mountain of evidence".
4.) The Chief said he didn't know about the robbery when he initially stopped Brown and Johnson. That is exactly in line with everything Wilson has said. He stopped them for walking in the road. He then noticed the cigars and noticed they matched the description, that's when he realized they were probably the ones who robbed the store. He was recorded saying he was out on canfield with two, and i believe he asked for another unit. The rest of his radio traffic did not go through, most likely because his radio channel was changed when Mike Brown was attacking him in the car.
HB, in Wilsons testimony to the GJ he claimed:
"Wilson told the unnamed detective questioning him that shortly after getting a call about a "stealing in progress" at the Ferguson Market, he drove past two black males walking down the middle of the street."
That is contrary to the official statements by the Police Dept.
There was only one outcome that would have potentially avoided rioting: White cop frying in an electric chair.
Nope....Sharpton called for this to happen REGARDLESS as to what the decision was. He is there telling people in ALL cities to protest (code word for riot). They will riot even when they are happy. Remember when the Lakers won the championship? I think they roasted marshmallows over the burning cars in the streets.
There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered. Â
Thats not the job of a grand jury. This should have went to trial.
One question i have is why wilson ,after brown walked away, why didn't he wait for backups to arrive. They were on the way. He did not have to follow brown and try to arrest him on his own. Brown was on foot. He was going no where.
Since when do police officers just allow suspects to walk away after matching the description of someone who just robbed a store, punched him in the face and went for his gun?
Bad shoots by police are rare. He knows how difficult it is to get a GJ to indict if he failed 4 times before. Why he reluctantly gave it to the GJ. He knew he had a loser.
We don't put people on trial just because a mob wants it.
Thought that ended years ago.
You would have rather he said we don't have a case right off and really let the fireworks begin?
No where in that oped was the statistic of how many other indictments the DA got or the percentage. that little factoid was absent in that rant. Hell, he may have a better percentage than the feds.
Last night, the National Bar Association, "the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges," issued a statement calling for Federal Charges to be brought against Officer Wilson.
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Bar Association is questioning how the Grand Jury, considering the evidence before them, could reach the conclusion that Darren Wilson should not be indicted and tried for the shooting death of Michael Brown. National Bar Association President Pamela J. Meanes expresses her sincere disappointment with the outcome of the Grand Jury’s decision but has made it abundantly clear that the National Bar Association stands firm and will be calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue federal charges against officer Darren Wilson. “We will not rest until Michael Brown and his family has justice” states Pamela Meanes, President of the National Bar Association.....
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST SYMBOL THESE TO THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL BROWN. AS I HAVE SAID IN THE PAST, I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HERE, THEY LOST A LOVED ONE TO VIOLENCE. I KNOW THE PAIN THAT ACCOMPANIES SUCH A LOSS KNOWS NO BOUNDS. ON AUGUST 9, MICHAEL BROWN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON. WITHIN MINUTES, VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE INCIDENT BEGAN APPEARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TOWN WAS FILLED WITH SPECULATION AND LITTLE IF ANY SOLID ACCURATE INFORMATION. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ANGER BEGAN BREWING BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIME SCENE. UNDER VARYING TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES AND ERUPTED VERY AT LEAST ONCE BY GUNFIRE. CONTINUING AFTER THAT, THEY ALONG WITH THE AGENTS OF THE FBI AT THE DIRECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER, LOCATED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND GATHERED ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION. FULLY AWARE OF THE UNFOUNDED BUT GROWING CONCERN IN SOME PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF THIS TRAGIC DEATH MIGHT NOT BE FAIR, I DECIDED IMMEDIATELY THAT ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GATHERED, ALL PEOPLE CLAIMING TO HAVE WITNESSED ANY PART OR ALL OF THE SHOOTING, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELATED MATTERS WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY. 12 MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY SELECTED BY A JUDGE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR LONG BEFORE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPAND UPON THE UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER FIRST ANNOUNCED THE INVESTIGATION JUST DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING, HE PLEDGED THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS WOULD BE WORKING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WOULD FOLLOW THE FACTS WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE US. WE BOTH PLEDGED ARE SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS WILL FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF FACTS WITH NO PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHERE THAT JOURNEY WOULD TAKE US. THE ONLY GOAL WAS THAT OUR INVESTIGATION WOULD BE THOROUGH AND COMPLETE TO GIVE THE GRAND JURY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ULTIMATELY, THE PUBLIC ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. ALL EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY INVESTIGATORS. ALL EVIDENCE GATHERED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED BY THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONDUCTED ITS OWN EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE AND PERFORMED ITS OWN AUTOPSY. ANOTHER AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED AT REQUEST OF THE BROWN FAMILY AND HIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO SHARED. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, ALL TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY GRAND JURY WAS IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE SEPARATE, BOTH OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ALL OF THE SAME INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE. OUR INVESTIGATION AND PRESENTATION OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE GRAND JURY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE ENCOUNTERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE AND THE SENSATIONAL APPETITE FOR SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND WITH THE RUMORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF ACCURATE DETAIL SURROUNDING THE SHOOTING FRUSTRATES THE MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND HELPS BREED SUSPICION AMONG THOSE ALREADY STRESSED OUT BY THE SYSTEM. THE CLOSE REGARDED DETAILS GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT YARDSTICK TO MEASURE THE TRUTHFULNESS. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS MUST ALWAYS BE CHALLENGED AND COMPARED AGAINST THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MANY WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN MADE STATEMENTS INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER STATEMENTS THEY MADE AND ALSO CONFLICTED WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WERE COMPLETELY REFUTED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. AN EXAMPLE -- BEFORE THE RESULT OF AN AUTOPSY WAS RELEASED, WITNESSES CLAIM THEY SAW OFFICER WILSON STAND OVER MICHAEL BROWN AND FIRE MANY ROUNDS INTO HIS BACK. OTHERS CLAIM THAT OFFICER WILSON SHOT MR. BROWN IN THE BACK AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING AWAY. HOWEVER, ONCE THE AUTOPSY FINDINGS WERE RELEASED SHOWING MICHAEL BROWN HAD NOT SUSTAINED ANY WOUNDS TO THE BACK OF HIS BODY, NO ADDITIONAL WITNESSES MADE SUCH A CLAIM. SEVERAL WITNESSES ADJUSTED THEIR STORIES IN THEIR SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS. SOME EVEN ADMITTED THEY DID NOT WITNESS THE EVENT AT ALL BUT MERELY REPEATED WHAT THEY HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ASSUMED. FORTUNATELY FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR INVESTIGATION, ALMOST ALL OF INITIAL WITNESS INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING THOSE OF OPPOSITE WILSON WERE RECORDED. THE STATEMENTS IN THE TESTIMONY OF MOST OF THE WITNESSES WERE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY BEFORE THE AUTOPSY RESULTS WERE RELEASED BY THE MEDIA AND BEFORE SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS PUBLISH INFORMATION FROM REPORTS THEY RECEIVE FROM A D.C. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. THE JURORS WERE THEREFORE PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION BEING PUBLIC AND WHAT FOLLOWED IN THE NEW CYCLE -- THE JURORS WERE ABLE TO ASSESS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES, INCLUDING THOSE WITNESSES WHO STATEMENTS AND TESTIMONY REMAINED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT EVERY INTERVIEW AND WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MY ASSISTANTS BEGIN PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY ON AUGUST 23 THE EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED IN ORGANIZED AN ORDERLY MANNER. THE JURORS GAVE US A SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY COULD MAKE. ALL 12 JURORS WERE PRESENT FOR EVERY SESSION AND HEARD EVERY WORD OF TESTIMONY AND EXAMINED EVERY ITEM OF EVIDENCE. BEGINNING AUGUST 20 AND CONTINUING UNTIL TODAY, THE GRAND JURY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO EXAMINE AND RE-EXAMINE ALL OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES AND ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS ASKING QUESTIONS OF EVERY WITNESS, REQUESTING SPECIFIC WITNESSES, REQUESTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND ASKING FOR CERTAIN PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY MET ON 25 SEPARATE DAYS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, HEARD MORE THAN 70 HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM ABOUT 60 WITNESSES AND REVIEWED HOURS AND HOURS OF RECORDINGS OF MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS BY MANY OF THE WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED. THEY HEARD FROM THE THREE MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND EXPERTS ON BLOOD, DNA, TOXICOLOGY, FIREARMS AND DRUG ANALYSIS. THE EXAMINED HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, SOME OF WHICH THEY ASKED TO BE TAKEN. THE EXAMINED VARIOUS PIECES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH FIVE INDICTMENTS RANGING FROM MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. THEIR BURDEN WAS DETERMINED BASED UPON ALL OF THE EVIDENCE IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTSED AND THAT DARREN WILSON WAS THE PERSON TO COMMIT THE CRIME. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT DARREN WILSON CAUSED THE DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN BY SHOOTING HIM BUT THE INQUIRY DOES NOT END THERE. THE LOFT ARISES A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER USED DEADLY FORCE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE LAW ALLOWS ALL PEOPLE TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE GRAND JURY CONSIDERED WHETHER WILSON WAS THE INITIAL AGGRESSOR. IN THIS CASE ARE WHETHER THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT DARREN WILSON WAS OFTEN ARISE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO USE DEADLY FORCE IN THIS SITUATION OR IF HE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE. I DETAIL THIS FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL KNOW THAT AS PROMISED BY ME AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER, THERE WAS A FULL PRESENTATION OF ALL EVIDENCE AN APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION TO THE GRAND JURY. SECOND, AS A CAUTION TO THOSE IN AND OUT OF THE MEDIA WHO WILL POUNCE ON A SINGLE SENSE OR WITNESS AND DECIDE WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS CASE BASED ON THAT TINY BIT OF INFORMATION, THE DUTY OF THE GRAND JURY IS TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. AFTER A FULL AND IMPARTIAL EXAMINATION OF ALL THE EVIDENCE INVOLVED AND DECIDED THAT EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THE FILING OF ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST AARON WILSON, THEY ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND SAY AGAIN THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD AND EXAMINED EVERY WITNESS AND EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE. THEY DISCUSSED AND DEBATED THE EVIDENCE AMONG THEMSELVES BEFORE ARRIVING AT THEIR COLLECTIVE DECISION. AFTER THEIR EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW, THE GRAND JURY DELIBERATED AND MADE THEIR FINAL DECISION. THEY DETERMINED THAT NO PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO FILE ANY CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER WILSON AND RETURN A NO TRUE ON EACH OF THE FIVE INDICTMENTS. THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE EXAMINED BY THE GRAND JURY COMBINED WITH A WITNESS STATEMENT SUPPORTED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THAT PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HELD THE ACCURATE AND TRAGIC STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE VERY GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF THE TESTIMONY AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY FOLLOWS -- AS I HAVE PROMISED, THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES CALLED TO THE GRAND JURY WILL BE RELEASED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STATEMENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. ON SATURDAY THE NINTH OF AUGUST, FERGUSON POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON WAS THE DISPATCH TO AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING A TWO-MONTH-OLD INFANT HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. AT ABOUT 11:53 A.M., WILSON HEARD A RADIO BROADCAST OF STEALING IN PROGRESS AT A MARKET IN. THE BROADCAST ALSO INCLUDED A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT. A BLACK MALE, WEARING A WHITE T-SHIRT AND A BOX OF SWISHER CIG ARS. OFFICER WILSON REMAINED WITH THE MOTHER AND THE INFANT UNTIL EMS ARRIVED. OFFICER WILSON LEFT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN HIS POLICE VEHICLE, A CHEVY TAHOE SUV. AN ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT WAS RELEASED AT THAT TIME. HE WAS WITH ANOTHER MALE. AS OFFICER WILSON WAS ATTENDING TO HIS EMERGENCY CALL, MICHAEL BROWN AND A COMPANION WERE IN THE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE. MICHAEL BROWN'S ACTIVITY IN THE STORE WAS RECORDED BY THE STORE SECURITY CAMERAS. THE VIDEO OFTEN PLAYED FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE IN AUGUST BY THE FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWS MICHAEL BROWN GRABBING A HANDFUL OF CIGARILLOS AND HEADING TOWARD THE EXIT WITHOUT PAYING. AS MICHAEL BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS LEFT THE STORE, SOMEBODY INSIDE CALLED THE POLICE. THE TWO WALKED EAST INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MR. BROWN DIRECTLY BEHIND HIS COMPANION. AS OFFICER WILSON CONTINUED WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED MR. BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS TO WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. AS WILSON SLOWED, HE TOLD THEM TO MOVE TO THE SIDEWALK. WORDS WERE EXCHANGED AND THEY CONTINUED TO WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WILSON OBSERVED THAT MICHAEL BROWN HAD CIGARILLOS IN HIS HAND WHEN WAS WEARING A RED HAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:02 P.M., WILSON RADIOED HE HAD TO INDIVIDUALS AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. OFFICER WILSON BACKED HIS VEHICLE AT AN ANGLE BLOCKING THEIR PATH AND BLOCKING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SEVERAL CARS APPROACHED FROM BOTH EAST AND WEST BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS THE VEHICLE. AN ALTERCATION TOOK PLACE WITH OFFICER WILSON SEATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MR. BROWN STANDING AT THE DRIVERS WINDOW. DURING THE ALTERCATION, TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED BY OFFERS A WILSON WHILE STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MR. BROWN RAN EAST AND OFFICER WILSON GAVE CHASE. NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TO OFFICER WILSON. OFFICER WILSON ALSO STOP. AS MICHAEL BROWN MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON, SEVERAL MORE SHOTS WERE FIRED BY THE OFFICER AND MICHAEL BROWN WAS FATALLY WOUNDED. WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FINAL SHOT, THE ASSIST CAR ARRIVED. LESS THAN 90 SECONDS PASSED BETWEEN THE FIRST CONTACT AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE ASSIST CAR. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, EYEWITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY ME VERY AS -- BY VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS. WITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOMETIMES TOGETHER AND SOMETIMES SEPARATELY. ALL THE STATEMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO THE OTHER PARTY. ALL PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY FOR ALSO PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WHETHER THEY WERE MEDIA INTERVIEWS OR INTERVIEWS BY THE FBI OR BY THE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE STATEMENTS OF ALL WITNESSES, CIVILIAN, LAW-ENFORCEMENT, EXPERTS WERE CHALLENGED BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY THE PROSECUTORS AND THE GRAND JURY THEMSELVES. A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR CHALLENGING A STATEMENT IS TO COMPARE IT TO THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF THE WITNESS FOR CONSISTENCY AND TO COMPARE IT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PRESSURE OR PERSONAL AGENDA. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT LOOK AWAY AS EVENTS UNFOLD NOR DOES IT BLACKOUT OR ADDED TO MEMORY. IT REMAINS CONSTANT AND IS A SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH CASES ARE BUILT. WHEN STATEMENTS CHANGE, WITNESSES WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE INCONSISTENCIES AND CONFLICT BETWEEN THEIR STATEMENTS AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WITNESSES ADMITTED THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING OR ONLY SAW PART OF THE SHOOTING. ONLY REPEATING WHAT THEY HEARD ON THE STREET. SOME OTHERS ADJUSTED PARTS OF THEIR STATEMENTS TO FIT THE FACTS. OTHERS STOOD BY ORIGINAL STATEMENTS EVEN THOUGH THEIR STATEMENTS WERE COMPLETELY DISCREDITED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SEVERAL WITNESSES DESCRIBE SEEING AN ALTERCATION IN THE CAR BETWEEN MR. BROWN AND OFFICER WILSON. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS WRESTLING, TUG-OF-WAR. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES DESCRIBED MR. BROWN AS PUNCHING OFFICER WILSON WHILE MR. BROWN WAS PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MANY OF THE WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD A GUNSHOT WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STILL PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID THAT NO PART OF MR. BROWN WAS EVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE SHOT WAS FIRED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STANDING OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE AND OFFICER WILSON'S CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT WAS EXAMINED BY VARIOUS TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND OR DNA WERE LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR. HIS BLOOD AND DNA WERE FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND DNA WAS FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER DOOR. THE UPPER LEFT THIGH OF OFFICER WILSON'S PANT LEG, THE FRONT CALLER OF OFFICER WILSON ASSURED AND ON OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON. ADDITIONALLY, A BULLET FIRED FROM OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVER DOOR. THE SHOT WAS FIRED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE DOOR IN A DOWNWARD ANGLE AT THE ARMREST. THE SECOND BULLET WAS NOT RECOVERED. REGARDING THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF MR. BROWN, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE THREE SEPARATE AUTOPSIES WERE CONDUCTED -- ONE BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICE, ONE BY A PRIVATE PATHOLOGIST, ONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE RESULT OF ALL THREE AUTOPSIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ALL SIGNIFICANT RESPECTS. MR. BROWN HAD A GUNSHOT GRAZE WOUND ON HIS RIGHT THUMB. THE PATH WAS AWAY FROM THE TIP OF THE HAND CONSISTENT WITH A CLOSE RANGE GUNSHOT. OFFICER WILSON ALSO HAD A MEDICAL EXAMINATION WHICH INDICATED SOME SWELLING AND REDNESS TO HIS FACE. ALMOST ALL WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER THEY HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED WHILE MR. BROWN WAS UP A CAR, HE HESITATED AND THEN RAN EAST. MOST STATED THAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND CHASED AFTER HIM. SOME WITNESSES STATED WILSON FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS HE CHASED AFTER HIM STRIKING HIM AT LEAST -- AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID ONE OF THE SHOTS STRUCK MR. BROWN. OTHER STATED HE DID NOT FIRE UNTIL MR. BROWN TURNED AND CAME BACK TOWARDS THE OFFICER. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS STATED THAT AS OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE, HE SHOT MR. BROWN MULTIPLE TIMES AS MR. BROWN STOOD NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. YET ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT OFFICER WILSON STUCK HIS GUN OUTSIDE THE WINDOW AND FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING. ONE WITNESS STATED THERE WAS ACTUALLY TOWO POLICE VEHICLES. MOST WITNESSES AGREED THAT NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED AROUND FACING OFFICER WILSON. SUNSETTED MR. BROWN DID NOT MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AT ALL BUT WERE SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AS HE STOOD NEAR THE CORNER WITH HIS HANDS RAISED. IN SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY, MANY OF THE SAME WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING. SUMMER RUNNING FOR COVER, SOME WERE RELATING WHAT THEY HEARD FROM OTHERS OR THEY SAID WHAT THEY ASSUMED HAPPENED IN THAT CASE. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES MAINTAINED THEIR ORIGINAL STATEMENT THAT MR. BROWN HAD HIS HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAS NOT MOVING TOWARDS THE OFFICER WHEN HE WAS SHOT. OTHERS SAID HE WAS SHOT -- IT'S USUALLY -- SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THAT MR. BROWN DID NOT RAISE HIS HANDS AT ALL OR THAT HE RAISED THEM BRIEFLY AND THEN DROP THEM AND TURNED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHO FIRED SEVERAL ROUNDS. OTHER WITNESSES STATED MR. BROWN STOPPED FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD AND MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AGAIN. ONE DESCRIBES HIS MOVEMENT AS A FULL CHARGE. ACCORDING TO SOME WITNESSES, OFFICER WILSON STOPPED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STOPPED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AND RESUMED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STARTED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AGAIN. THESE WITNESSES DID NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA. THE DESCRIPTION OF HOW MR. BROWN'S HANDS, RAISED HIS HANDS OR THE POSITION OF HIS HANDS, IS NOT CONSISTENT AMONG THE WITNESSES. SOME DESCRIBE IS AND IS BEING OUT TO HIS SIDES, SOME SAID IN FRONT OF HIM. SOME SAID HIS AUNT RAISED BY HIS HEAD OR BY HIS SHOULDERS. OTHERS DESCRIBE HIS HANDS IS BEING IN A RUNNING POSITION OR INTERESTS -- IN FISTS. THERE ARE VARIOUS WITNESS STATEMENTS REGARDING MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENT AFTER HE STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID MR. BROWN NEVER MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHEN HE WAS SHOT. MOST SAID THE SHOTS WERE FIRED AS HE MOVED TOWARDS WILSON. MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENTS WERE DESCRIBED AS WALKING, MOVING FAST, STUMBLING OR FULL CHARGE. THE VARYING DESCRIPTIONS WERE SOMETIMES PROVIDED BY THE SAME WITNESSES IN SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS FOR TESTIMONY. THE ENTIRE AREA WAS PROCESSED BY THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CRIME SCENE UNIT. A TOTAL OF 12 ROUNDS WERE FIRED BY OFFICER WILSON. TWO SHOTS OF THE CAR, 10 MORE FARTHER EAST. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A GRAZE WOUND TO HIS THUMB WHILE STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. HE SUSTAINED SIX OR SEVEN MORE GUNSHOT WOUNDS DEPENDING UPON WHETHER ONE OF THE SHOTS WAS AN ENTRY OR REENTRY WOUND. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A SECOND GRAZE WOUND, AND OTHER GRAZE WOUND, TO HIS RIGHT BICEP. HE ALSO SUSTAINED WOUNDS TO HIS RIGHT FOREARM, UPPER FRONT RIGHT ARM, LATERAL RIGHT CHEST, UPPER RIGHT CHEST, FOR HEAD AND TOP OF THE HEAD. THE TOP OF THE HEAD, FOREHEAD AND PERHAPS THE UPPER RIGHT CHEST WERE CONSISTENT WITH HIS BODY BEING BENT FORWARD AT THE WAIST. EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST AND LAST WOUND, THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF THE SHOTS. TO GRAZE WOUND OF THE THUMB SUSTAINED AT THE VEHICLE WAS LIKELY THE FIRST WOUND. IT WAS THE ONLY CLOSE RANGE SHOT. THE SHOT AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD WAS MOST LIKELY THE LAST. IT WOULD'VE RENDERED HIM IMMEDIATELY UNCONSCIOUS AND INCAPACITATED. MR. BROWN'S BODY WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 153 FEET EAST OF OFFICER WILSON'S CAR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET FARTHER EAST PAST HIS BODY. AND NEARBY TENET DURING A VIDEO CHAT INADVERTENTLY CAPTURED THE FINAL TED SHOTS -- 0 10 SHOTS ON TAPE. THERE WAS A STRING OF SHOTS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF PAUSE AND THEN ANOTHER STRING OF SHOTS. AS I STATED EARLIER, THE EVIDENCE AND THE TESTIMONY WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT. I AM EVER MINDFUL THAT THIS DECISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY SOME AND MAY CAUSE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR OTHERS. ALL DECISIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND THE CREDIBLE TESTIMONY CORROBORATED BY THAT EVIDENCE, NOT IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC OUTCRY. DECISIONS ON A MATTER IS SERIOUS IN CHARGING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A CRIME CANNOT BE DECIDED ON ANYTHING LESS THAN COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE. ANYTHING LESS IS NOT JUSTICE. IT IS MY SWORN DUTY AND THAT OF THE GRAND JURY TO SEEK JUSTICE AND NOT SIMPLY OBTAIN AN INDICTMENT OR CONVICTION. DURING THIS EXTREMELY TENSE AND PAINFUL TIME THAT WE HAVE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AND ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND WATCHING HOW WE RESPOND AND HOW WE REACT. I WOULD URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WITH THE LOSS OF THAT WAS SUFFERED BY THE BROWN FAMILY, NO YOUNG MAN SHOULD EVER DIED. THIS IS A TRAGIC LOSS REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS OPEN OLD WOUNDS AND GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ADDRESS THOSE WOUNDS AS OPPOSED TO WHERE THEY JUST FADE AWAY IN THE PAST. HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THAT LEAD TO INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. YET AFTER A TIME, IT JUST FADES AWAY. I URGE EVERYONE WHO WAS ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION, ENGAGED IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS TO KEEP THAT GOING. NOT TO LET THAT GO. TO DO IT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, I WAY WE CAN PROFIT FROM THIS. A WAY THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS BY CHANGING THE STRUCTURE, CHANGING SOME OF THE ISSUES, BY SOLVING THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO THE SORTS OF THINGS. WITH MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY, THE CLERGY, WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE ELSE -- THE END OF -- THE NAACP. THE URBAN LEAGUE. EVERY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, PRIVATE CITIZEN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THE DEMONSTRATION, CONTINUED THE DISCUSSION, ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS BUT DO SO IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, NOT DESTRUCTIVE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST SYMBOL THESE TO THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL BROWN. AS I HAVE SAID IN THE PAST, I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HERE, THEY LOST A LOVED ONE TO VIOLENCE. I KNOW THE PAIN THAT ACCOMPANIES SUCH A LOSS KNOWS NO BOUNDS. ON AUGUST 9, MICHAEL BROWN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON. WITHIN MINUTES, VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE INCIDENT BEGAN APPEARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TOWN WAS FILLED WITH SPECULATION AND LITTLE IF ANY SOLID ACCURATE INFORMATION. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ANGER BEGAN BREWING BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIME SCENE. UNDER VARYING TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES AND ERUPTED VERY AT LEAST ONCE BY GUNFIRE. CONTINUING AFTER THAT, THEY ALONG WITH THE AGENTS OF THE FBI AT THE DIRECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER, LOCATED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND GATHERED ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION. FULLY AWARE OF THE UNFOUNDED BUT GROWING CONCERN IN SOME PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF THIS TRAGIC DEATH MIGHT NOT BE FAIR, I DECIDED IMMEDIATELY THAT ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GATHERED, ALL PEOPLE CLAIMING TO HAVE WITNESSED ANY PART OR ALL OF THE SHOOTING, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELATED MATTERS WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY. 12 MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY SELECTED BY A JUDGE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR LONG BEFORE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPAND UPON THE UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER FIRST ANNOUNCED THE INVESTIGATION JUST DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING, HE PLEDGED THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS WOULD BE WORKING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WOULD FOLLOW THE FACTS WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE US. WE BOTH PLEDGED ARE SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS WILL FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF FACTS WITH NO PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHERE THAT JOURNEY WOULD TAKE US. THE ONLY GOAL WAS THAT OUR INVESTIGATION WOULD BE THOROUGH AND COMPLETE TO GIVE THE GRAND JURY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ULTIMATELY, THE PUBLIC ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. ALL EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY INVESTIGATORS. ALL EVIDENCE GATHERED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED BY THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONDUCTED ITS OWN EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE AND PERFORMED ITS OWN AUTOPSY. ANOTHER AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED AT REQUEST OF THE BROWN FAMILY AND HIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO SHARED. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, ALL TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY GRAND JURY WAS IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE SEPARATE, BOTH OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ALL OF THE SAME INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE. OUR INVESTIGATION AND PRESENTATION OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE GRAND JURY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE ENCOUNTERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE AND THE SENSATIONAL APPETITE FOR SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND WITH THE RUMORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF ACCURATE DETAIL SURROUNDING THE SHOOTING FRUSTRATES THE MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND HELPS BREED SUSPICION AMONG THOSE ALREADY STRESSED OUT BY THE SYSTEM. THE CLOSE REGARDED DETAILS GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT YARDSTICK TO MEASURE THE TRUTHFULNESS. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS MUST ALWAYS BE CHALLENGED AND COMPARED AGAINST THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MANY WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN MADE STATEMENTS INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER STATEMENTS THEY MADE AND ALSO CONFLICTED WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WERE COMPLETELY REFUTED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. AN EXAMPLE -- BEFORE THE RESULT OF AN AUTOPSY WAS RELEASED, WITNESSES CLAIM THEY SAW OFFICER WILSON STAND OVER MICHAEL BROWN AND FIRE MANY ROUNDS INTO HIS BACK. OTHERS CLAIM THAT OFFICER WILSON SHOT MR. BROWN IN THE BACK AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING AWAY. HOWEVER, ONCE THE AUTOPSY FINDINGS WERE RELEASED SHOWING MICHAEL BROWN HAD NOT SUSTAINED ANY WOUNDS TO THE BACK OF HIS BODY, NO ADDITIONAL WITNESSES MADE SUCH A CLAIM. SEVERAL WITNESSES ADJUSTED THEIR STORIES IN THEIR SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS. SOME EVEN ADMITTED THEY DID NOT WITNESS THE EVENT AT ALL BUT MERELY REPEATED WHAT THEY HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ASSUMED. FORTUNATELY FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR INVESTIGATION, ALMOST ALL OF INITIAL WITNESS INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING THOSE OF OPPOSITE WILSON WERE RECORDED. THE STATEMENTS IN THE TESTIMONY OF MOST OF THE WITNESSES WERE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY BEFORE THE AUTOPSY RESULTS WERE RELEASED BY THE MEDIA AND BEFORE SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS PUBLISH INFORMATION FROM REPORTS THEY RECEIVE FROM A D.C. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. THE JURORS WERE THEREFORE PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION BEING PUBLIC AND WHAT FOLLOWED IN THE NEW CYCLE -- THE JURORS WERE ABLE TO ASSESS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES, INCLUDING THOSE WITNESSES WHO STATEMENTS AND TESTIMONY REMAINED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT EVERY INTERVIEW AND WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MY ASSISTANTS BEGIN PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY ON AUGUST 23 THE EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED IN ORGANIZED AN ORDERLY MANNER. THE JURORS GAVE US A SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY COULD MAKE. ALL 12 JURORS WERE PRESENT FOR EVERY SESSION AND HEARD EVERY WORD OF TESTIMONY AND EXAMINED EVERY ITEM OF EVIDENCE. BEGINNING AUGUST 20 AND CONTINUING UNTIL TODAY, THE GRAND JURY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO EXAMINE AND RE-EXAMINE ALL OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES AND ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS ASKING QUESTIONS OF EVERY WITNESS, REQUESTING SPECIFIC WITNESSES, REQUESTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND ASKING FOR CERTAIN PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY MET ON 25 SEPARATE DAYS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, HEARD MORE THAN 70 HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM ABOUT 60 WITNESSES AND REVIEWED HOURS AND HOURS OF RECORDINGS OF MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS BY MANY OF THE WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED. THEY HEARD FROM THE THREE MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND EXPERTS ON BLOOD, DNA, TOXICOLOGY, FIREARMS AND DRUG ANALYSIS. THE EXAMINED HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, SOME OF WHICH THEY ASKED TO BE TAKEN. THE EXAMINED VARIOUS PIECES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH FIVE INDICTMENTS RANGING FROM MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. THEIR BURDEN WAS DETERMINED BASED UPON ALL OF THE EVIDENCE IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTSED AND THAT DARREN WILSON WAS THE PERSON TO COMMIT THE CRIME. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT DARREN WILSON CAUSED THE DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN BY SHOOTING HIM BUT THE INQUIRY DOES NOT END THERE. THE LOFT ARISES A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER USED DEADLY FORCE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE LAW ALLOWS ALL PEOPLE TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE GRAND JURY CONSIDERED WHETHER WILSON WAS THE INITIAL AGGRESSOR. IN THIS CASE ARE WHETHER THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT DARREN WILSON WAS OFTEN ARISE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO USE DEADLY FORCE IN THIS SITUATION OR IF HE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE. I DETAIL THIS FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL KNOW THAT AS PROMISED BY ME AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER, THERE WAS A FULL PRESENTATION OF ALL EVIDENCE AN APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION TO THE GRAND JURY. SECOND, AS A CAUTION TO THOSE IN AND OUT OF THE MEDIA WHO WILL POUNCE ON A SINGLE SENSE OR WITNESS AND DECIDE WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS CASE BASED ON THAT TINY BIT OF INFORMATION, THE DUTY OF THE GRAND JURY IS TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. AFTER A FULL AND IMPARTIAL EXAMINATION OF ALL THE EVIDENCE INVOLVED AND DECIDED THAT EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THE FILING OF ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST AARON WILSON, THEY ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND SAY AGAIN THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD AND EXAMINED EVERY WITNESS AND EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE. THEY DISCUSSED AND DEBATED THE EVIDENCE AMONG THEMSELVES BEFORE ARRIVING AT THEIR COLLECTIVE DECISION. AFTER THEIR EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW, THE GRAND JURY DELIBERATED AND MADE THEIR FINAL DECISION. THEY DETERMINED THAT NO PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO FILE ANY CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER WILSON AND RETURN A NO TRUE ON EACH OF THE FIVE INDICTMENTS. THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE EXAMINED BY THE GRAND JURY COMBINED WITH A WITNESS STATEMENT SUPPORTED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THAT PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HELD THE ACCURATE AND TRAGIC STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE VERY GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF THE TESTIMONY AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY FOLLOWS -- AS I HAVE PROMISED, THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES CALLED TO THE GRAND JURY WILL BE RELEASED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STATEMENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. ON SATURDAY THE NINTH OF AUGUST, FERGUSON POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON WAS THE DISPATCH TO AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING A TWO-MONTH-OLD INFANT HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. AT ABOUT 11:53 A.M., WILSON HEARD A RADIO BROADCAST OF STEALING IN PROGRESS AT A MARKET IN. THE BROADCAST ALSO INCLUDED A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT. A BLACK MALE, WEARING A WHITE T-SHIRT AND A BOX OF SWISHER CIG ARS. OFFICER WILSON REMAINED WITH THE MOTHER AND THE INFANT UNTIL EMS ARRIVED. OFFICER WILSON LEFT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN HIS POLICE VEHICLE, A CHEVY TAHOE SUV. AN ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT WAS RELEASED AT THAT TIME. HE WAS WITH ANOTHER MALE. AS OFFICER WILSON WAS ATTENDING TO HIS EMERGENCY CALL, MICHAEL BROWN AND A COMPANION WERE IN THE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE. MICHAEL BROWN'S ACTIVITY IN THE STORE WAS RECORDED BY THE STORE SECURITY CAMERAS. THE VIDEO OFTEN PLAYED FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE IN AUGUST BY THE FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWS MICHAEL BROWN GRABBING A HANDFUL OF CIGARILLOS AND HEADING TOWARD THE EXIT WITHOUT PAYING. AS MICHAEL BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS LEFT THE STORE, SOMEBODY INSIDE CALLED THE POLICE. THE TWO WALKED EAST INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MR. BROWN DIRECTLY BEHIND HIS COMPANION. AS OFFICER WILSON CONTINUED WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED MR. BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS TO WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. AS WILSON SLOWED, HE TOLD THEM TO MOVE TO THE SIDEWALK. WORDS WERE EXCHANGED AND THEY CONTINUED TO WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WILSON OBSERVED THAT MICHAEL BROWN HAD CIGARILLOS IN HIS HAND WHEN WAS WEARING A RED HAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:02 P.M., WILSON RADIOED HE HAD TO INDIVIDUALS AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. OFFICER WILSON BACKED HIS VEHICLE AT AN ANGLE BLOCKING THEIR PATH AND BLOCKING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SEVERAL CARS APPROACHED FROM BOTH EAST AND WEST BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS THE VEHICLE. AN ALTERCATION TOOK PLACE WITH OFFICER WILSON SEATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MR. BROWN STANDING AT THE DRIVERS WINDOW. DURING THE ALTERCATION, TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED BY OFFERS A WILSON WHILE STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MR. BROWN RAN EAST AND OFFICER WILSON GAVE CHASE. NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TO OFFICER WILSON. OFFICER WILSON ALSO STOP. AS MICHAEL BROWN MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON, SEVERAL MORE SHOTS WERE FIRED BY THE OFFICER AND MICHAEL BROWN WAS FATALLY WOUNDED. WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FINAL SHOT, THE ASSIST CAR ARRIVED. LESS THAN 90 SECONDS PASSED BETWEEN THE FIRST CONTACT AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE ASSIST CAR. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, EYEWITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY ME VERY AS -- BY VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS. WITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOMETIMES TOGETHER AND SOMETIMES SEPARATELY. ALL THE STATEMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO THE OTHER PARTY. ALL PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY FOR ALSO PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WHETHER THEY WERE MEDIA INTERVIEWS OR INTERVIEWS BY THE FBI OR BY THE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE STATEMENTS OF ALL WITNESSES, CIVILIAN, LAW-ENFORCEMENT, EXPERTS WERE CHALLENGED BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY THE PROSECUTORS AND THE GRAND JURY THEMSELVES. A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR CHALLENGING A STATEMENT IS TO COMPARE IT TO THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF THE WITNESS FOR CONSISTENCY AND TO COMPARE IT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PRESSURE OR PERSONAL AGENDA. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT LOOK AWAY AS EVENTS UNFOLD NOR DOES IT BLACKOUT OR ADDED TO MEMORY. IT REMAINS CONSTANT AND IS A SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH CASES ARE BUILT. WHEN STATEMENTS CHANGE, WITNESSES WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE INCONSISTENCIES AND CONFLICT BETWEEN THEIR STATEMENTS AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WITNESSES ADMITTED THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING OR ONLY SAW PART OF THE SHOOTING. ONLY REPEATING WHAT THEY HEARD ON THE STREET. SOME OTHERS ADJUSTED PARTS OF THEIR STATEMENTS TO FIT THE FACTS. OTHERS STOOD BY ORIGINAL STATEMENTS EVEN THOUGH THEIR STATEMENTS WERE COMPLETELY DISCREDITED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SEVERAL WITNESSES DESCRIBE SEEING AN ALTERCATION IN THE CAR BETWEEN MR. BROWN AND OFFICER WILSON. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS WRESTLING, TUG-OF-WAR. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES DESCRIBED MR. BROWN AS PUNCHING OFFICER WILSON WHILE MR. BROWN WAS PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MANY OF THE WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD A GUNSHOT WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STILL PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID THAT NO PART OF MR. BROWN WAS EVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE SHOT WAS FIRED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STANDING OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE AND OFFICER WILSON'S CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT WAS EXAMINED BY VARIOUS TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND OR DNA WERE LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR. HIS BLOOD AND DNA WERE FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND DNA WAS FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER DOOR. THE UPPER LEFT THIGH OF OFFICER WILSON'S PANT LEG, THE FRONT CALLER OF OFFICER WILSON ASSURED AND ON OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON. ADDITIONALLY, A BULLET FIRED FROM OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVER DOOR. THE SHOT WAS FIRED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE DOOR IN A DOWNWARD ANGLE AT THE ARMREST. THE SECOND BULLET WAS NOT RECOVERED. REGARDING THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF MR. BROWN, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE THREE SEPARATE AUTOPSIES WERE CONDUCTED -- ONE BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICE, ONE BY A PRIVATE PATHOLOGIST, ONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE RESULT OF ALL THREE AUTOPSIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ALL SIGNIFICANT RESPECTS. MR. BROWN HAD A GUNSHOT GRAZE WOUND ON HIS RIGHT THUMB. THE PATH WAS AWAY FROM THE TIP OF THE HAND CONSISTENT WITH A CLOSE RANGE GUNSHOT. OFFICER WILSON ALSO HAD A MEDICAL EXAMINATION WHICH INDICATED SOME SWELLING AND REDNESS TO HIS FACE. ALMOST ALL WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER THEY HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED WHILE MR. BROWN WAS UP A CAR, HE HESITATED AND THEN RAN EAST. MOST STATED THAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND CHASED AFTER HIM. SOME WITNESSES STATED WILSON FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS HE CHASED AFTER HIM STRIKING HIM AT LEAST -- AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID ONE OF THE SHOTS STRUCK MR. BROWN. OTHER STATED HE DID NOT FIRE UNTIL MR. BROWN TURNED AND CAME BACK TOWARDS THE OFFICER. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS STATED THAT AS OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE, HE SHOT MR. BROWN MULTIPLE TIMES AS MR. BROWN STOOD NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. YET ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT OFFICER WILSON STUCK HIS GUN OUTSIDE THE WINDOW AND FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING. ONE WITNESS STATED THERE WAS ACTUALLY TOWO POLICE VEHICLES. MOST WITNESSES AGREED THAT NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED AROUND FACING OFFICER WILSON. SUNSETTED MR. BROWN DID NOT MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AT ALL BUT WERE SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AS HE STOOD NEAR THE CORNER WITH HIS HANDS RAISED. IN SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY, MANY OF THE SAME WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING. SUMMER RUNNING FOR COVER, SOME WERE RELATING WHAT THEY HEARD FROM OTHERS OR THEY SAID WHAT THEY ASSUMED HAPPENED IN THAT CASE. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES MAINTAINED THEIR ORIGINAL STATEMENT THAT MR. BROWN HAD HIS HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAS NOT MOVING TOWARDS THE OFFICER WHEN HE WAS SHOT. OTHERS SAID HE WAS SHOT -- IT'S USUALLY -- SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THAT MR. BROWN DID NOT RAISE HIS HANDS AT ALL OR THAT HE RAISED THEM BRIEFLY AND THEN DROP THEM AND TURNED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHO FIRED SEVERAL ROUNDS. OTHER WITNESSES STATED MR. BROWN STOPPED FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD AND MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AGAIN. ONE DESCRIBES HIS MOVEMENT AS A FULL CHARGE. ACCORDING TO SOME WITNESSES, OFFICER WILSON STOPPED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STOPPED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AND RESUMED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STARTED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AGAIN. THESE WITNESSES DID NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA. THE DESCRIPTION OF HOW MR. BROWN'S HANDS, RAISED HIS HANDS OR THE POSITION OF HIS HANDS, IS NOT CONSISTENT AMONG THE WITNESSES. SOME DESCRIBE IS AND IS BEING OUT TO HIS SIDES, SOME SAID IN FRONT OF HIM. SOME SAID HIS AUNT RAISED BY HIS HEAD OR BY HIS SHOULDERS. OTHERS DESCRIBE HIS HANDS IS BEING IN A RUNNING POSITION OR INTERESTS -- IN FISTS. THERE ARE VARIOUS WITNESS STATEMENTS REGARDING MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENT AFTER HE STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID MR. BROWN NEVER MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHEN HE WAS SHOT. MOST SAID THE SHOTS WERE FIRED AS HE MOVED TOWARDS WILSON. MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENTS WERE DESCRIBED AS WALKING, MOVING FAST, STUMBLING OR FULL CHARGE. THE VARYING DESCRIPTIONS WERE SOMETIMES PROVIDED BY THE SAME WITNESSES IN SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS FOR TESTIMONY. THE ENTIRE AREA WAS PROCESSED BY THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CRIME SCENE UNIT. A TOTAL OF 12 ROUNDS WERE FIRED BY OFFICER WILSON. TWO SHOTS OF THE CAR, 10 MORE FARTHER EAST. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A GRAZE WOUND TO HIS THUMB WHILE STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. HE SUSTAINED SIX OR SEVEN MORE GUNSHOT WOUNDS DEPENDING UPON WHETHER ONE OF THE SHOTS WAS AN ENTRY OR REENTRY WOUND. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A SECOND GRAZE WOUND, AND OTHER GRAZE WOUND, TO HIS RIGHT BICEP. HE ALSO SUSTAINED WOUNDS TO HIS RIGHT FOREARM, UPPER FRONT RIGHT ARM, LATERAL RIGHT CHEST, UPPER RIGHT CHEST, FOR HEAD AND TOP OF THE HEAD. THE TOP OF THE HEAD, FOREHEAD AND PERHAPS THE UPPER RIGHT CHEST WERE CONSISTENT WITH HIS BODY BEING BENT FORWARD AT THE WAIST. EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST AND LAST WOUND, THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF THE SHOTS. TO GRAZE WOUND OF THE THUMB SUSTAINED AT THE VEHICLE WAS LIKELY THE FIRST WOUND. IT WAS THE ONLY CLOSE RANGE SHOT. THE SHOT AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD WAS MOST LIKELY THE LAST. IT WOULD'VE RENDERED HIM IMMEDIATELY UNCONSCIOUS AND INCAPACITATED. MR. BROWN'S BODY WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 153 FEET EAST OF OFFICER WILSON'S CAR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET FARTHER EAST PAST HIS BODY. AND NEARBY TENET DURING A VIDEO CHAT INADVERTENTLY CAPTURED THE FINAL TED SHOTS -- 0 10 SHOTS ON TAPE. THERE WAS A STRING OF SHOTS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF PAUSE AND THEN ANOTHER STRING OF SHOTS. AS I STATED EARLIER, THE EVIDENCE AND THE TESTIMONY WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT. I AM EVER MINDFUL THAT THIS DECISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY SOME AND MAY CAUSE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR OTHERS. ALL DECISIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND THE CREDIBLE TESTIMONY CORROBORATED BY THAT EVIDENCE, NOT IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC OUTCRY. DECISIONS ON A MATTER IS SERIOUS IN CHARGING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A CRIME CANNOT BE DECIDED ON ANYTHING LESS THAN COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE. ANYTHING LESS IS NOT JUSTICE. IT IS MY SWORN DUTY AND THAT OF THE GRAND JURY TO SEEK JUSTICE AND NOT SIMPLY OBTAIN AN INDICTMENT OR CONVICTION. DURING THIS EXTREMELY TENSE AND PAINFUL TIME THAT WE HAVE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AND ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND WATCHING HOW WE RESPOND AND HOW WE REACT. I WOULD URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WITH THE LOSS OF THAT WAS SUFFERED BY THE BROWN FAMILY, NO YOUNG MAN SHOULD EVER DIED. THIS IS A TRAGIC LOSS REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS OPEN OLD WOUNDS AND GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ADDRESS THOSE WOUNDS AS OPPOSED TO WHERE THEY JUST FADE AWAY IN THE PAST. HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THAT LEAD TO INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. YET AFTER A TIME, IT JUST FADES AWAY. I URGE EVERYONE WHO WAS ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION, ENGAGED IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS TO KEEP THAT GOING. NOT TO LET THAT GO. TO DO IT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, I WAY WE CAN PROFIT FROM THIS. A WAY THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS BY CHANGING THE STRUCTURE, CHANGING SOME OF THE ISSUES, BY SOLVING THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO THE SORTS OF THINGS. WITH MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY, THE CLERGY, WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE ELSE -- THE END OF -- THE NAACP. THE URBAN LEAGUE. EVERY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, PRIVATE CITIZEN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THE DEMONSTRATION, CONTINUED THE DISCUSSION, ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS BUT DO SO IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, NOT DESTRUCTIVE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST SYMBOL THESE TO THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL BROWN. AS I HAVE SAID IN THE PAST, I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HERE, THEY LOST A LOVED ONE TO VIOLENCE. I KNOW THE PAIN THAT ACCOMPANIES SUCH A LOSS KNOWS NO BOUNDS. ON AUGUST 9, MICHAEL BROWN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON. WITHIN MINUTES, VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE INCIDENT BEGAN APPEARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TOWN WAS FILLED WITH SPECULATION AND LITTLE IF ANY SOLID ACCURATE INFORMATION. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ANGER BEGAN BREWING BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIME SCENE. UNDER VARYING TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES AND ERUPTED VERY AT LEAST ONCE BY GUNFIRE. CONTINUING AFTER THAT, THEY ALONG WITH THE AGENTS OF THE FBI AT THE DIRECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER, LOCATED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND GATHERED ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION. FULLY AWARE OF THE UNFOUNDED BUT GROWING CONCERN IN SOME PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF THIS TRAGIC DEATH MIGHT NOT BE FAIR, I DECIDED IMMEDIATELY THAT ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GATHERED, ALL PEOPLE CLAIMING TO HAVE WITNESSED ANY PART OR ALL OF THE SHOOTING, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELATED MATTERS WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY. 12 MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY SELECTED BY A JUDGE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR LONG BEFORE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPAND UPON THE UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER FIRST ANNOUNCED THE INVESTIGATION JUST DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING, HE PLEDGED THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS WOULD BE WORKING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WOULD FOLLOW THE FACTS WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE US. WE BOTH PLEDGED ARE SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS WILL FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF FACTS WITH NO PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHERE THAT JOURNEY WOULD TAKE US. THE ONLY GOAL WAS THAT OUR INVESTIGATION WOULD BE THOROUGH AND COMPLETE TO GIVE THE GRAND JURY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ULTIMATELY, THE PUBLIC ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. ALL EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY INVESTIGATORS. ALL EVIDENCE GATHERED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED BY THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONDUCTED ITS OWN EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE AND PERFORMED ITS OWN AUTOPSY. ANOTHER AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED AT REQUEST OF THE BROWN FAMILY AND HIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO SHARED. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, ALL TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY GRAND JURY WAS IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE SEPARATE, BOTH OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ALL OF THE SAME INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE. OUR INVESTIGATION AND PRESENTATION OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE GRAND JURY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE ENCOUNTERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE AND THE SENSATIONAL APPETITE FOR SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND WITH THE RUMORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF ACCURATE DETAIL SURROUNDING THE SHOOTING FRUSTRATES THE MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND HELPS BREED SUSPICION AMONG THOSE ALREADY STRESSED OUT BY THE SYSTEM. THE CLOSE REGARDED DETAILS GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT YARDSTICK TO MEASURE THE TRUTHFULNESS. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS MUST ALWAYS BE CHALLENGED AND COMPARED AGAINST THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MANY WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN MADE STATEMENTS INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER STATEMENTS THEY MADE AND ALSO CONFLICTED WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WERE COMPLETELY REFUTED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. AN EXAMPLE -- BEFORE THE RESULT OF AN AUTOPSY WAS RELEASED, WITNESSES CLAIM THEY SAW OFFICER WILSON STAND OVER MICHAEL BROWN AND FIRE MANY ROUNDS INTO HIS BACK. OTHERS CLAIM THAT OFFICER WILSON SHOT MR. BROWN IN THE BACK AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING AWAY. HOWEVER, ONCE THE AUTOPSY FINDINGS WERE RELEASED SHOWING MICHAEL BROWN HAD NOT SUSTAINED ANY WOUNDS TO THE BACK OF HIS BODY, NO ADDITIONAL WITNESSES MADE SUCH A CLAIM. SEVERAL WITNESSES ADJUSTED THEIR STORIES IN THEIR SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS. SOME EVEN ADMITTED THEY DID NOT WITNESS THE EVENT AT ALL BUT MERELY REPEATED WHAT THEY HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ASSUMED. FORTUNATELY FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR INVESTIGATION, ALMOST ALL OF INITIAL WITNESS INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING THOSE OF OPPOSITE WILSON WERE RECORDED. THE STATEMENTS IN THE TESTIMONY OF MOST OF THE WITNESSES WERE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY BEFORE THE AUTOPSY RESULTS WERE RELEASED BY THE MEDIA AND BEFORE SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS PUBLISH INFORMATION FROM REPORTS THEY RECEIVE FROM A D.C. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. THE JURORS WERE THEREFORE PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION BEING PUBLIC AND WHAT FOLLOWED IN THE NEW CYCLE -- THE JURORS WERE ABLE TO ASSESS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES, INCLUDING THOSE WITNESSES WHO STATEMENTS AND TESTIMONY REMAINED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT EVERY INTERVIEW AND WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MY ASSISTANTS BEGIN PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY ON AUGUST 23 THE EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED IN ORGANIZED AN ORDERLY MANNER. THE JURORS GAVE US A SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY COULD MAKE. ALL 12 JURORS WERE PRESENT FOR EVERY SESSION AND HEARD EVERY WORD OF TESTIMONY AND EXAMINED EVERY ITEM OF EVIDENCE. BEGINNING AUGUST 20 AND CONTINUING UNTIL TODAY, THE GRAND JURY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO EXAMINE AND RE-EXAMINE ALL OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES AND ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS ASKING QUESTIONS OF EVERY WITNESS, REQUESTING SPECIFIC WITNESSES, REQUESTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND ASKING FOR CERTAIN PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY MET ON 25 SEPARATE DAYS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, HEARD MORE THAN 70 HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM ABOUT 60 WITNESSES AND REVIEWED HOURS AND HOURS OF RECORDINGS OF MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS BY MANY OF THE WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED. THEY HEARD FROM THE THREE MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND EXPERTS ON BLOOD, DNA, TOXICOLOGY, FIREARMS AND DRUG ANALYSIS. THE EXAMINED HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, SOME OF WHICH THEY ASKED TO BE TAKEN. THE EXAMINED VARIOUS PIECES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH FIVE INDICTMENTS RANGING FROM MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. THEIR BURDEN WAS DETERMINED BASED UPON ALL OF THE EVIDENCE IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTSED AND THAT DARREN WILSON WAS THE PERSON TO COMMIT THE CRIME. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT DARREN WILSON CAUSED THE DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN BY SHOOTING HIM BUT THE INQUIRY DOES NOT END THERE. THE LOFT ARISES A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER USED DEADLY FORCE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE LAW ALLOWS ALL PEOPLE TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE GRAND JURY CONSIDERED WHETHER WILSON WAS THE INITIAL AGGRESSOR. IN THIS CASE ARE WHETHER THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT DARREN WILSON WAS OFTEN ARISE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO USE DEADLY FORCE IN THIS SITUATION OR IF HE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE. I DETAIL THIS FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL KNOW THAT AS PROMISED BY ME AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER, THERE WAS A FULL PRESENTATION OF ALL EVIDENCE AN APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION TO THE GRAND JURY. SECOND, AS A CAUTION TO THOSE IN AND OUT OF THE MEDIA WHO WILL POUNCE ON A SINGLE SENSE OR WITNESS AND DECIDE WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS CASE BASED ON THAT TINY BIT OF INFORMATION, THE DUTY OF THE GRAND JURY IS TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. AFTER A FULL AND IMPARTIAL EXAMINATION OF ALL THE EVIDENCE INVOLVED AND DECIDED THAT EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THE FILING OF ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST AARON WILSON, THEY ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND SAY AGAIN THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD AND EXAMINED EVERY WITNESS AND EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE. THEY DISCUSSED AND DEBATED THE EVIDENCE AMONG THEMSELVES BEFORE ARRIVING AT THEIR COLLECTIVE DECISION. AFTER THEIR EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW, THE GRAND JURY DELIBERATED AND MADE THEIR FINAL DECISION. THEY DETERMINED THAT NO PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO FILE ANY CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER WILSON AND RETURN A NO TRUE ON EACH OF THE FIVE INDICTMENTS. THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE EXAMINED BY THE GRAND JURY COMBINED WITH A WITNESS STATEMENT SUPPORTED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THAT PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HELD THE ACCURATE AND TRAGIC STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE VERY GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF THE TESTIMONY AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY FOLLOWS -- AS I HAVE PROMISED, THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES CALLED TO THE GRAND JURY WILL BE RELEASED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STATEMENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. ON SATURDAY THE NINTH OF AUGUST, FERGUSON POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON WAS THE DISPATCH TO AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING A TWO-MONTH-OLD INFANT HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. AT ABOUT 11:53 A.M., WILSON HEARD A RADIO BROADCAST OF STEALING IN PROGRESS AT A MARKET IN. THE BROADCAST ALSO INCLUDED A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT. A BLACK MALE, WEARING A WHITE T-SHIRT AND A BOX OF SWISHER CIG ARS. OFFICER WILSON REMAINED WITH THE MOTHER AND THE INFANT UNTIL EMS ARRIVED. OFFICER WILSON LEFT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN HIS POLICE VEHICLE, A CHEVY TAHOE SUV. AN ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT WAS RELEASED AT THAT TIME. HE WAS WITH ANOTHER MALE. AS OFFICER WILSON WAS ATTENDING TO HIS EMERGENCY CALL, MICHAEL BROWN AND A COMPANION WERE IN THE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE. MICHAEL BROWN'S ACTIVITY IN THE STORE WAS RECORDED BY THE STORE SECURITY CAMERAS. THE VIDEO OFTEN PLAYED FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE IN AUGUST BY THE FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWS MICHAEL BROWN GRABBING A HANDFUL OF CIGARILLOS AND HEADING TOWARD THE EXIT WITHOUT PAYING. AS MICHAEL BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS LEFT THE STORE, SOMEBODY INSIDE CALLED THE POLICE. THE TWO WALKED EAST INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MR. BROWN DIRECTLY BEHIND HIS COMPANION. AS OFFICER WILSON CONTINUED WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED MR. BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS TO WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. AS WILSON SLOWED, HE TOLD THEM TO MOVE TO THE SIDEWALK. WORDS WERE EXCHANGED AND THEY CONTINUED TO WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WILSON OBSERVED THAT MICHAEL BROWN HAD CIGARILLOS IN HIS HAND WHEN WAS WEARING A RED HAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:02 P.M., WILSON RADIOED HE HAD TO INDIVIDUALS AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. OFFICER WILSON BACKED HIS VEHICLE AT AN ANGLE BLOCKING THEIR PATH AND BLOCKING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SEVERAL CARS APPROACHED FROM BOTH EAST AND WEST BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS THE VEHICLE. AN ALTERCATION TOOK PLACE WITH OFFICER WILSON SEATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MR. BROWN STANDING AT THE DRIVERS WINDOW. DURING THE ALTERCATION, TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED BY OFFERS A WILSON WHILE STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MR. BROWN RAN EAST AND OFFICER WILSON GAVE CHASE. NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TO OFFICER WILSON. OFFICER WILSON ALSO STOP. AS MICHAEL BROWN MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON, SEVERAL MORE SHOTS WERE FIRED BY THE OFFICER AND MICHAEL BROWN WAS FATALLY WOUNDED. WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FINAL SHOT, THE ASSIST CAR ARRIVED. LESS THAN 90 SECONDS PASSED BETWEEN THE FIRST CONTACT AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE ASSIST CAR. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, EYEWITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY ME VERY AS -- BY VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS. WITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOMETIMES TOGETHER AND SOMETIMES SEPARATELY. ALL THE STATEMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO THE OTHER PARTY. ALL PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY FOR ALSO PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WHETHER THEY WERE MEDIA INTERVIEWS OR INTERVIEWS BY THE FBI OR BY THE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE STATEMENTS OF ALL WITNESSES, CIVILIAN, LAW-ENFORCEMENT, EXPERTS WERE CHALLENGED BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY THE PROSECUTORS AND THE GRAND JURY THEMSELVES. A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR CHALLENGING A STATEMENT IS TO COMPARE IT TO THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF THE WITNESS FOR CONSISTENCY AND TO COMPARE IT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PRESSURE OR PERSONAL AGENDA. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT LOOK AWAY AS EVENTS UNFOLD NOR DOES IT BLACKOUT OR ADDED TO MEMORY. IT REMAINS CONSTANT AND IS A SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH CASES ARE BUILT. WHEN STATEMENTS CHANGE, WITNESSES WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE INCONSISTENCIES AND CONFLICT BETWEEN THEIR STATEMENTS AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WITNESSES ADMITTED THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING OR ONLY SAW PART OF THE SHOOTING. ONLY REPEATING WHAT THEY HEARD ON THE STREET. SOME OTHERS ADJUSTED PARTS OF THEIR STATEMENTS TO FIT THE FACTS. OTHERS STOOD BY ORIGINAL STATEMENTS EVEN THOUGH THEIR STATEMENTS WERE COMPLETELY DISCREDITED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SEVERAL WITNESSES DESCRIBE SEEING AN ALTERCATION IN THE CAR BETWEEN MR. BROWN AND OFFICER WILSON. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS WRESTLING, TUG-OF-WAR. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES DESCRIBED MR. BROWN AS PUNCHING OFFICER WILSON WHILE MR. BROWN WAS PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MANY OF THE WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD A GUNSHOT WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STILL PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID THAT NO PART OF MR. BROWN WAS EVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE SHOT WAS FIRED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STANDING OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE AND OFFICER WILSON'S CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT WAS EXAMINED BY VARIOUS TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND OR DNA WERE LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR. HIS BLOOD AND DNA WERE FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND DNA WAS FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER DOOR. THE UPPER LEFT THIGH OF OFFICER WILSON'S PANT LEG, THE FRONT CALLER OF OFFICER WILSON ASSURED AND ON OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON. ADDITIONALLY, A BULLET FIRED FROM OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVER DOOR. THE SHOT WAS FIRED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE DOOR IN A DOWNWARD ANGLE AT THE ARMREST. THE SECOND BULLET WAS NOT RECOVERED. REGARDING THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF MR. BROWN, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE THREE SEPARATE AUTOPSIES WERE CONDUCTED -- ONE BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICE, ONE BY A PRIVATE PATHOLOGIST, ONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE RESULT OF ALL THREE AUTOPSIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ALL SIGNIFICANT RESPECTS. MR. BROWN HAD A GUNSHOT GRAZE WOUND ON HIS RIGHT THUMB. THE PATH WAS AWAY FROM THE TIP OF THE HAND CONSISTENT WITH A CLOSE RANGE GUNSHOT. OFFICER WILSON ALSO HAD A MEDICAL EXAMINATION WHICH INDICATED SOME SWELLING AND REDNESS TO HIS FACE. ALMOST ALL WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER THEY HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED WHILE MR. BROWN WAS UP A CAR, HE HESITATED AND THEN RAN EAST. MOST STATED THAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND CHASED AFTER HIM. SOME WITNESSES STATED WILSON FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS HE CHASED AFTER HIM STRIKING HIM AT LEAST -- AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID ONE OF THE SHOTS STRUCK MR. BROWN. OTHER STATED HE DID NOT FIRE UNTIL MR. BROWN TURNED AND CAME BACK TOWARDS THE OFFICER. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS STATED THAT AS OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE, HE SHOT MR. BROWN MULTIPLE TIMES AS MR. BROWN STOOD NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. YET ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT OFFICER WILSON STUCK HIS GUN OUTSIDE THE WINDOW AND FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING. ONE WITNESS STATED THERE WAS ACTUALLY TOWO POLICE VEHICLES. MOST WITNESSES AGREED THAT NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED AROUND FACING OFFICER WILSON. SUNSETTED MR. BROWN DID NOT MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AT ALL BUT WERE SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AS HE STOOD NEAR THE CORNER WITH HIS HANDS RAISED. IN SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY, MANY OF THE SAME WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING. SUMMER RUNNING FOR COVER, SOME WERE RELATING WHAT THEY HEARD FROM OTHERS OR THEY SAID WHAT THEY ASSUMED HAPPENED IN THAT CASE. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES MAINTAINED THEIR ORIGINAL STATEMENT THAT MR. BROWN HAD HIS HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAS NOT MOVING TOWARDS THE OFFICER WHEN HE WAS SHOT. OTHERS SAID HE WAS SHOT -- IT'S USUALLY -- SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THAT MR. BROWN DID NOT RAISE HIS HANDS AT ALL OR THAT HE RAISED THEM BRIEFLY AND THEN DROP THEM AND TURNED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHO FIRED SEVERAL ROUNDS. OTHER WITNESSES STATED MR. BROWN STOPPED FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD AND MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AGAIN. ONE DESCRIBES HIS MOVEMENT AS A FULL CHARGE. ACCORDING TO SOME WITNESSES, OFFICER WILSON STOPPED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STOPPED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AND RESUMED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STARTED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AGAIN. THESE WITNESSES DID NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA. THE DESCRIPTION OF HOW MR. BROWN'S HANDS, RAISED HIS HANDS OR THE POSITION OF HIS HANDS, IS NOT CONSISTENT AMONG THE WITNESSES. SOME DESCRIBE IS AND IS BEING OUT TO HIS SIDES, SOME SAID IN FRONT OF HIM. SOME SAID HIS AUNT RAISED BY HIS HEAD OR BY HIS SHOULDERS. OTHERS DESCRIBE HIS HANDS IS BEING IN A RUNNING POSITION OR INTERESTS -- IN FISTS. THERE ARE VARIOUS WITNESS STATEMENTS REGARDING MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENT AFTER HE STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID MR. BROWN NEVER MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHEN HE WAS SHOT. MOST SAID THE SHOTS WERE FIRED AS HE MOVED TOWARDS WILSON. MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENTS WERE DESCRIBED AS WALKING, MOVING FAST, STUMBLING OR FULL CHARGE. THE VARYING DESCRIPTIONS WERE SOMETIMES PROVIDED BY THE SAME WITNESSES IN SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS FOR TESTIMONY. THE ENTIRE AREA WAS PROCESSED BY THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CRIME SCENE UNIT. A TOTAL OF 12 ROUNDS WERE FIRED BY OFFICER WILSON. TWO SHOTS OF THE CAR, 10 MORE FARTHER EAST. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A GRAZE WOUND TO HIS THUMB WHILE STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. HE SUSTAINED SIX OR SEVEN MORE GUNSHOT WOUNDS DEPENDING UPON WHETHER ONE OF THE SHOTS WAS AN ENTRY OR REENTRY WOUND. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A SECOND GRAZE WOUND, AND OTHER GRAZE WOUND, TO HIS RIGHT BICEP. HE ALSO SUSTAINED WOUNDS TO HIS RIGHT FOREARM, UPPER FRONT RIGHT ARM, LATERAL RIGHT CHEST, UPPER RIGHT CHEST, FOR HEAD AND TOP OF THE HEAD. THE TOP OF THE HEAD, FOREHEAD AND PERHAPS THE UPPER RIGHT CHEST WERE CONSISTENT WITH HIS BODY BEING BENT FORWARD AT THE WAIST. EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST AND LAST WOUND, THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF THE SHOTS. TO GRAZE WOUND OF THE THUMB SUSTAINED AT THE VEHICLE WAS LIKELY THE FIRST WOUND. IT WAS THE ONLY CLOSE RANGE SHOT. THE SHOT AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD WAS MOST LIKELY THE LAST. IT WOULD'VE RENDERED HIM IMMEDIATELY UNCONSCIOUS AND INCAPACITATED. MR. BROWN'S BODY WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 153 FEET EAST OF OFFICER WILSON'S CAR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET FARTHER EAST PAST HIS BODY. AND NEARBY TENET DURING A VIDEO CHAT INADVERTENTLY CAPTURED THE FINAL TED SHOTS -- 0 10 SHOTS ON TAPE. THERE WAS A STRING OF SHOTS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF PAUSE AND THEN ANOTHER STRING OF SHOTS. AS I STATED EARLIER, THE EVIDENCE AND THE TESTIMONY WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT. I AM EVER MINDFUL THAT THIS DECISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY SOME AND MAY CAUSE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR OTHERS. ALL DECISIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND THE CREDIBLE TESTIMONY CORROBORATED BY THAT EVIDENCE, NOT IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC OUTCRY. DECISIONS ON A MATTER IS SERIOUS IN CHARGING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A CRIME CANNOT BE DECIDED ON ANYTHING LESS THAN COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE. ANYTHING LESS IS NOT JUSTICE. IT IS MY SWORN DUTY AND THAT OF THE GRAND JURY TO SEEK JUSTICE AND NOT SIMPLY OBTAIN AN INDICTMENT OR CONVICTION. DURING THIS EXTREMELY TENSE AND PAINFUL TIME THAT WE HAVE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AND ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND WATCHING HOW WE RESPOND AND HOW WE REACT. I WOULD URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WITH THE LOSS OF THAT WAS SUFFERED BY THE BROWN FAMILY, NO YOUNG MAN SHOULD EVER DIED. THIS IS A TRAGIC LOSS REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS OPEN OLD WOUNDS AND GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ADDRESS THOSE WOUNDS AS OPPOSED TO WHERE THEY JUST FADE AWAY IN THE PAST. HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THAT LEAD TO INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. YET AFTER A TIME, IT JUST FADES AWAY. I URGE EVERYONE WHO WAS ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION, ENGAGED IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS TO KEEP THAT GOING. NOT TO LET THAT GO. TO DO IT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, I WAY WE CAN PROFIT FROM THIS. A WAY THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS BY CHANGING THE STRUCTURE, CHANGING SOME OF THE ISSUES, BY SOLVING THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO THE SORTS OF THINGS. WITH MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY, THE CLERGY, WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE ELSE -- THE END OF -- THE NAACP. THE URBAN LEAGUE. EVERY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, PRIVATE CITIZEN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THE DEMONSTRATION, CONTINUED THE DISCUSSION, ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS BUT DO SO IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, NOT DESTRUCTIVE.
Maybe they should. Wilson said brown was acting like demon. Wilson was scared and he was angry. Why not wait 1 minute for backups. Less than a minute in this case. Why would you try and arrest a demon with great strength alone if you did not have to?
The GJ's role in these officer involved shooting cases is different from the normal GJ case, in that it is investigatory. The logic behind it is that in the case of police officer, because the taking of a life is considered a potential task within his assigned duties, he shouldn't be placed on the same footing as a citizen who kills, who does not have that authority.
I thought some of the witnesses were going to be problematic. One of the problems with witnesses in these cases and police misconduct cases is that because they perceive a wrong has been done, they think it is appropriate, the right thing to do, to guess or assume facts that fit the narrative, then incorporate that into their testimony. I found the allegation that Brown after voicing an intent to surrender with hands raised in surrender was then subsequently shot. Was not there but I struggled to find the specifics of that narrative credible. Overzealous witnesses were a potential problem with this case.
Will we ever know exactly what happened? No. So, we are left with the Grand Jury decision. People like the OP will celebrate this. Rioters will act like idiots who don't care about Brown anyway, will react idiotically. T
he biggest problem will be the many people, particularly Black people, the vast majority who are not criminals, already distrustful of the police will see this as another bitter pill they have to swallow. And, the pill is washed down with the cheers and adulation of people like PA Giants fan. It builds up resentment, hate, and distrust. Things that will eat away at them until the nest time this happens.
Grand Jury has spoken. Regardless of whether one is pleased with that decision, they should be pleased with the fact that we have the system we have. I am. I am also pleased that PA Giant Fan isn't a cop. As a former police boss, if I knew I had a guy like that walking around with gun and a badge - I'd never be able to sleep at night.
Why should we not celebrate the outcome. A thug, piece of crap attacked a police officer and the officer defended himself and the people in Ferguson and ended up shooting Brown.
Would it be better if Wilson had executed Brown in the middle of the street?
The truth is there are a bunch of apologists for the behavior of pieces of crap in Ferguson and needed to hear that Wilson was a murderer to justify their misguided position.
There should be a sigh of relief to hear the testimony and see the cop did not commit murder. Instead there is continued nonsense to justify the ridiculousness that has occurred.
RE: National Bar Association is calling for a trial Â
Last night, the National Bar Association, "the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges," issued a statement calling for Federal Charges to be brought against Officer Wilson.
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Bar Association is questioning how the Grand Jury, considering the evidence before them, could reach the conclusion that Darren Wilson should not be indicted and tried for the shooting death of Michael Brown. National Bar Association President Pamela J. Meanes expresses her sincere disappointment with the outcome of the Grand Jury’s decision but has made it abundantly clear that the National Bar Association stands firm and will be calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue federal charges against officer Darren Wilson. “We will not rest until Michael Brown and his family has justice” states Pamela Meanes, President of the National Bar Association.....
All that says is that you can be a judge or a lawyer, see all the facts, and still be ruled by race. It's sad.
These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1.) McCulloch said he gave them 5 different indictments to consider.
2.) Any evidence that he's been favorable to police officers in the past?
3.) What did you want him to do? Only give the false stories from those who said Brown had his hands up and was shot running away? Cmon. People want a full investigation and then they are upset because the Grand Jury was given a "mountain of evidence".
4.) The Chief said he didn't know about the robbery when he initially stopped Brown and Johnson. That is exactly in line with everything Wilson has said. He stopped them for walking in the road. He then noticed the cigars and noticed they matched the description, that's when he realized they were probably the ones who robbed the store. He was recorded saying he was out on canfield with two, and i believe he asked for another unit. The rest of his radio traffic did not go through, most likely because his radio channel was changed when Mike Brown was attacking him in the car.
HB, in Wilsons testimony to the GJ he claimed:
"Wilson told the unnamed detective questioning him that shortly after getting a call about a "stealing in progress" at the Ferguson Market, he drove past two black males walking down the middle of the street."
That is contrary to the official statements by the Police Dept.
He clarified that by saying the call wasn't for him. He heard the call come over the radio, but he only heard part of it. When he first contacted them, he only contacted them because they were walking on the yellow line in the middle of the road. When he drove past them, he saw the cigars and realized they matched the description. He immediately called for another car after telling them he was out with two on Canfield.
Why should we not celebrate the outcome. A thug, piece of crap attacked a police officer and the officer defended himself and the people in Ferguson and ended up shooting Brown.
Would it be better if Wilson had executed Brown in the middle of the street?
The truth is there are a bunch of apologists for the behavior of pieces of crap in Ferguson and needed to hear that Wilson was a murderer to justify their misguided position.
There should be a sigh of relief to hear the testimony and see the cop did not commit murder. Instead there is continued nonsense to justify the ridiculousness that has occurred.
In addition to celebrating the outcome, you are celebrating Michael Brown's death. You are a shit stain.
You can celebrate whatever you care to. I just got tired of listening to it.
FYI: I have been on the scene of several officer involved shootings resulting in citizen deaths, all involved co-workers, some personal friends. Contrary to your reaction, not one of them - not one - celebrated the life they took. It bothered them, every last one of them and it stays with them to this day. There was no high fivin, trash talking, celebrating - they took a life and they wish they didn't have to. They regret it although it was necessary - none of them celebrated it.
All went through the grand jury and had to endure varying levels of protest and negative media coverage. Despite that, they still never said - I'm glad that guy is dead. You run your mouth about stuff you know nothing about and will never have to do.
And don't build pathetic straw men for me. "Would it be better if Officer Wilson had died?" Because I get tired of reading your obnoxious crap- that means I would have preferred to see a cop get killed? What I squeezed out in the toilet bowl this morning contains more information about how to keep police officers safe than will ever reside inside that head of yours.
"He clarified that by saying the call wasn't for him. He heard the call come over the radio, but he only heard part of it. When he first contacted them, he only contacted them because they were walking on the yellow line in the middle of the road. When he drove past them, he saw the cigars and realized they matched the description. He immediately called for another car after telling them he was out with two on Canfield."
Yep. he was on a medical call in the area. When the child was taken by the ambulance, he cleared the scene. He encountered the two impeding traffic walking down the yellow line and had to block traffic. That's when he noticed they fit the description and called for backup.
If they weren't walking down the middle of the road f&&n with traffic.
Maybe they should. Wilson said brown was acting like demon. Wilson was scared and he was angry. Why not wait 1 minute for backups. Less than a minute in this case. Why would you try and arrest a demon with great strength alone if you did not have to?
He did try to wait. He tried to stall until backup arrived and he got attacked in his car. He wanted to get out of his car because sitting in your car makes you vulnerable. Once Brown ran, he wanted to keep an eye on him because he literally just assaulted a police officer and tried to take his gun...not a good idea to let him just run off.
police are rarely found guilty in deadly force cases regardless of the race of the victim.
Here's a story by a Wisconsin man whose son was killed in a questionable incident.
Money quote:
"In 129 years since police and fire commissions were created in the state of Wisconsin, we could not find a single ruling by a police department, an inquest or a police commission that a shooting was unjustified".
Seems you guys were looking to find Wilson a murderer and I am glad he is not which I knew already. What is wrong with that? And yes I don't give a shit about Brown really.
And neither do any of you. And if you say you do, tell me how many hours you have spent volunteering or supporting violent felons in prisons because if Brown had not been killed that day, that is what he would be.
Are you guys who bitch at me going to tell me you spend time supporting violent felons in prison that have assaulted police officers and tried to kill them? Tell me how many people in prison for attacking police officers you give a shit about.
In other words some of you are full of shit and trying to support your awful position.
Video here - ( New Window )
1) The DA didn't recuse himself, even though he had close ties to the police, and his father was a cop who was shot and killed in the line of duty.
2) In October, the Washington Post reported a number of GJ leaks, nearly all favorable to Wilson.
3) The prosecutor had the option of pushing for an indictment and letting the world see what the GJ saw. He didn't. The level of proof necessary to get true bill and let a regular jury decide guilt is a tiny fraction of that needed to convict.
If the DA was trying to get a just, balanced outcome, he made a horrible series of errors, regardless of whether Wilson was actually guilty of anything. One can make a strong case, I think, that had he let this go to a jury, as he almost certainly could have, the bitterness and violence would have been diminished greatly.
And since thread this will ultimately go away anyway, a certain ignorant woman on this site and a certain smug, self-important person from PA who probably blew up the other thread can go bleep themselves. Link - ( New Window )
I doubt a full trial would have diminished anything if Wilson was acquitted.
Actually, my guess is that a majority of the instigators/rioters will have moved on to their next target. Ferguson was little more than an opportunity. Some/most of the looters will be around, but they are opportunists and don't have on their agenda complaining about the lack of re-openings.
The folks who got destroyed and won't be back are the small business owners. Even if they wanted to return, they just got priced out of the market by their insurance. Not sure about the McDonalds. I don't know what franchisees get as far as insurance goes. You know, Montana might be able to shed some light on that one.
So should the DA have pushed for an indictment and put the officer, the town and everyone through a circus of a trial? Not to mention the money it would cost the county or city.
People want a show, not justice.
That's just a dumb talking point being floated out there and if anyone would really put any thought into it they would understand the two points I posted in the above paragraph.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
Whether his ties with this police department (I'm not sure how many fall in his jurisdiction) would warrant a refusal is a fair question. The fact that he has close ties with police generally being trumpeted as holding any significance whatsoever is idiotic. Any prosecutor by definition works closely with law enforcement, be it at the state/local or federal level. The fact that his father was a police officer killed in the line of duty is also not expressly relevant. Presumably he and his office have prosecuted police officers for misconduct before, probably successfully.
As Obama said last night, it does make for some compelling television.
Good , fuck em all. Let them be responsible for cleaning up the fucking mess and for re-building the shithole. Fucking morons.
Here is something that I would like to understand. Why would the POTUS wait until 10pm to tell people on a TV interview to protest peacefully if they are already in the streets rioting and have yet to plug in the TVs that they have stolen? The people who had a chance to hear what he had to say most likely were never going to leave their homes that night. Think maybe that message should have gone out a lot sooner? Does anyone think it would have mattered?
Presumably.
Fact checking for Dune - ( New Window )
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1.) McCulloch said he gave them 5 different indictments to consider.
2.) Any evidence that he's been favorable to police officers in the past?
3.) What did you want him to do? Only give the false stories from those who said Brown had his hands up and was shot running away? Cmon. People want a full investigation and then they are upset because the Grand Jury was given a "mountain of evidence".
4.) The Chief said he didn't know about the robbery when he initially stopped Brown and Johnson. That is exactly in line with everything Wilson has said. He stopped them for walking in the road. He then noticed the cigars and noticed they matched the description, that's when he realized they were probably the ones who robbed the store. He was recorded saying he was out on canfield with two, and i believe he asked for another unit. The rest of his radio traffic did not go through, most likely because his radio channel was changed when Mike Brown was attacking him in the car.
There was only one outcome that would have potentially avoided rioting: White cop frying in an electric chair.
The villagers are out for blood. some out for metaphoric blood. some out for actual blood.
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What a fucking mess they made of that place.
As Obama said last night, it does make for some compelling television.
Good , fuck em all. Let them be responsible for cleaning up the fucking mess and for re-building the shithole. Fucking morons.
Except those that got burned out were almost uniformly innocent parties. Certainly glad that sentiment did not prevail after Sandy.
Presumably. Fact checking for Dune - ( New Window )
Mentioning the 23 years makes it seem like he's had hundreds of opportunities.
He's had 5 opportunities. If you want to look at each of those cases and determine whether or not prosecution was warranted, go ahead. But to assume he did something wrong ONLY because none of those officers were prosecuted, well it's just ignorant.
LINK - ( New Window )
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These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1.) McCulloch said he gave them 5 different indictments to consider.
2.) Any evidence that he's been favorable to police officers in the past?
3.) What did you want him to do? Only give the false stories from those who said Brown had his hands up and was shot running away? Cmon. People want a full investigation and then they are upset because the Grand Jury was given a "mountain of evidence".
4.) The Chief said he didn't know about the robbery when he initially stopped Brown and Johnson. That is exactly in line with everything Wilson has said. He stopped them for walking in the road. He then noticed the cigars and noticed they matched the description, that's when he realized they were probably the ones who robbed the store. He was recorded saying he was out on canfield with two, and i believe he asked for another unit. The rest of his radio traffic did not go through, most likely because his radio channel was changed when Mike Brown was attacking him in the car.
HB, in Wilsons testimony to the GJ he claimed:
"Wilson told the unnamed detective questioning him that shortly after getting a call about a "stealing in progress" at the Ferguson Market, he drove past two black males walking down the middle of the street."
That is contrary to the official statements by the Police Dept.
But he never informed the GJ that
There was only one outcome that would have potentially avoided rioting: White cop frying in an electric chair.
Nope....Sharpton called for this to happen REGARDLESS as to what the decision was. He is there telling people in ALL cities to protest (code word for riot). They will riot even when they are happy. Remember when the Lakers won the championship? I think they roasted marshmallows over the burning cars in the streets.
One question i have is why wilson ,after brown walked away, why didn't he wait for backups to arrive. They were on the way. He did not have to follow brown and try to arrest him on his own. Brown was on foot. He was going no where.
I presumed he had prosecuted officer misconduct before. That was what my post said.
Who's "they"?
We don't put people on trial just because a mob wants it.
Thought that ended years ago.
You would have rather he said we don't have a case right off and really let the fireworks begin?
No where in that oped was the statistic of how many other indictments the DA got or the percentage. that little factoid was absent in that rant. Hell, he may have a better percentage than the feds.
2) Why is there no record of Wilson's first testimony the day of the shooting?
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Bar Association is questioning how the Grand Jury, considering the evidence before them, could reach the conclusion that Darren Wilson should not be indicted and tried for the shooting death of Michael Brown. National Bar Association President Pamela J. Meanes expresses her sincere disappointment with the outcome of the Grand Jury’s decision but has made it abundantly clear that the National Bar Association stands firm and will be calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue federal charges against officer Darren Wilson. “We will not rest until Michael Brown and his family has justice” states Pamela Meanes, President of the National Bar Association.....
JESUS CHRIST.
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FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST SYMBOL THESE TO THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL BROWN. AS I HAVE SAID IN THE PAST, I KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HERE, THEY LOST A LOVED ONE TO VIOLENCE. I KNOW THE PAIN THAT ACCOMPANIES SUCH A LOSS KNOWS NO BOUNDS. ON AUGUST 9, MICHAEL BROWN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON. WITHIN MINUTES, VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE INCIDENT BEGAN APPEARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE TOWN WAS FILLED WITH SPECULATION AND LITTLE IF ANY SOLID ACCURATE INFORMATION. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ANGER BEGAN BREWING BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIME SCENE. UNDER VARYING TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES AND ERUPTED VERY AT LEAST ONCE BY GUNFIRE. CONTINUING AFTER THAT, THEY ALONG WITH THE AGENTS OF THE FBI AT THE DIRECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER, LOCATED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND GATHERED ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION. FULLY AWARE OF THE UNFOUNDED BUT GROWING CONCERN IN SOME PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF THIS TRAGIC DEATH MIGHT NOT BE FAIR, I DECIDED IMMEDIATELY THAT ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GATHERED, ALL PEOPLE CLAIMING TO HAVE WITNESSED ANY PART OR ALL OF THE SHOOTING, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELATED MATTERS WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY. 12 MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY SELECTED BY A JUDGE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR LONG BEFORE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPAND UPON THE UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER FIRST ANNOUNCED THE INVESTIGATION JUST DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING, HE PLEDGED THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS WOULD BE WORKING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WOULD FOLLOW THE FACTS WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE US. WE BOTH PLEDGED ARE SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS WILL FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF FACTS WITH NO PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHERE THAT JOURNEY WOULD TAKE US. THE ONLY GOAL WAS THAT OUR INVESTIGATION WOULD BE THOROUGH AND COMPLETE TO GIVE THE GRAND JURY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ULTIMATELY, THE PUBLIC ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. ALL EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY INVESTIGATORS. ALL EVIDENCE GATHERED BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHARED BY THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONDUCTED ITS OWN EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE AND PERFORMED ITS OWN AUTOPSY. ANOTHER AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED AT REQUEST OF THE BROWN FAMILY AND HIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO SHARED. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, ALL TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY GRAND JURY WAS IMMEDIATELY PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. ALTHOUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE SEPARATE, BOTH OF THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ALL OF THE SAME INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE. OUR INVESTIGATION AND PRESENTATION OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE GRAND JURY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE ENCOUNTERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE AND THE SENSATIONAL APPETITE FOR SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND WITH THE RUMORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF ACCURATE DETAIL SURROUNDING THE SHOOTING FRUSTRATES THE MEDIA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND HELPS BREED SUSPICION AMONG THOSE ALREADY STRESSED OUT BY THE SYSTEM. THE CLOSE REGARDED DETAILS GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT YARDSTICK TO MEASURE THE TRUTHFULNESS. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS MUST ALWAYS BE CHALLENGED AND COMPARED AGAINST THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MANY WITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN MADE STATEMENTS INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER STATEMENTS THEY MADE AND ALSO CONFLICTED WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WERE COMPLETELY REFUTED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. AN EXAMPLE -- BEFORE THE RESULT OF AN AUTOPSY WAS RELEASED, WITNESSES CLAIM THEY SAW OFFICER WILSON STAND OVER MICHAEL BROWN AND FIRE MANY ROUNDS INTO HIS BACK. OTHERS CLAIM THAT OFFICER WILSON SHOT MR. BROWN IN THE BACK AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING AWAY. HOWEVER, ONCE THE AUTOPSY FINDINGS WERE RELEASED SHOWING MICHAEL BROWN HAD NOT SUSTAINED ANY WOUNDS TO THE BACK OF HIS BODY, NO ADDITIONAL WITNESSES MADE SUCH A CLAIM. SEVERAL WITNESSES ADJUSTED THEIR STORIES IN THEIR SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS. SOME EVEN ADMITTED THEY DID NOT WITNESS THE EVENT AT ALL BUT MERELY REPEATED WHAT THEY HEARD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR ASSUMED. FORTUNATELY FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR INVESTIGATION, ALMOST ALL OF INITIAL WITNESS INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING THOSE OF OPPOSITE WILSON WERE RECORDED. THE STATEMENTS IN THE TESTIMONY OF MOST OF THE WITNESSES WERE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY BEFORE THE AUTOPSY RESULTS WERE RELEASED BY THE MEDIA AND BEFORE SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS PUBLISH INFORMATION FROM REPORTS THEY RECEIVE FROM A D.C. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. THE JURORS WERE THEREFORE PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION BEING PUBLIC AND WHAT FOLLOWED IN THE NEW CYCLE -- THE JURORS WERE ABLE TO ASSESS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES, INCLUDING THOSE WITNESSES WHO STATEMENTS AND TESTIMONY REMAINED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT EVERY INTERVIEW AND WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MY ASSISTANTS BEGIN PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY ON AUGUST 23 THE EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED IN ORGANIZED AN ORDERLY MANNER. THE JURORS GAVE US A SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY COULD MAKE. ALL 12 JURORS WERE PRESENT FOR EVERY SESSION AND HEARD EVERY WORD OF TESTIMONY AND EXAMINED EVERY ITEM OF EVIDENCE. BEGINNING AUGUST 20 AND CONTINUING UNTIL TODAY, THE GRAND JURY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO EXAMINE AND RE-EXAMINE ALL OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES AND ALL OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE EXTREMELY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS ASKING QUESTIONS OF EVERY WITNESS, REQUESTING SPECIFIC WITNESSES, REQUESTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND ASKING FOR CERTAIN PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY MET ON 25 SEPARATE DAYS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, HEARD MORE THAN 70 HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM ABOUT 60 WITNESSES AND REVIEWED HOURS AND HOURS OF RECORDINGS OF MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS BY MANY OF THE WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED. THEY HEARD FROM THE THREE MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND EXPERTS ON BLOOD, DNA, TOXICOLOGY, FIREARMS AND DRUG ANALYSIS. THE EXAMINED HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, SOME OF WHICH THEY ASKED TO BE TAKEN. THE EXAMINED VARIOUS PIECES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH FIVE INDICTMENTS RANGING FROM MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. THEIR BURDEN WAS DETERMINED BASED UPON ALL OF THE EVIDENCE IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTSED AND THAT DARREN WILSON WAS THE PERSON TO COMMIT THE CRIME. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT DARREN WILSON CAUSED THE DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN BY SHOOTING HIM BUT THE INQUIRY DOES NOT END THERE. THE LOFT ARISES A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER USED DEADLY FORCE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE LAW ALLOWS ALL PEOPLE TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE GRAND JURY CONSIDERED WHETHER WILSON WAS THE INITIAL AGGRESSOR. IN THIS CASE ARE WHETHER THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT DARREN WILSON WAS OFTEN ARISE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO USE DEADLY FORCE IN THIS SITUATION OR IF HE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE. I DETAIL THIS FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL KNOW THAT AS PROMISED BY ME AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER, THERE WAS A FULL PRESENTATION OF ALL EVIDENCE AN APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION TO THE GRAND JURY. SECOND, AS A CAUTION TO THOSE IN AND OUT OF THE MEDIA WHO WILL POUNCE ON A SINGLE SENSE OR WITNESS AND DECIDE WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS CASE BASED ON THAT TINY BIT OF INFORMATION, THE DUTY OF THE GRAND JURY IS TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. AFTER A FULL AND IMPARTIAL EXAMINATION OF ALL THE EVIDENCE INVOLVED AND DECIDED THAT EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THE FILING OF ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST AARON WILSON, THEY ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND SAY AGAIN THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD AND EXAMINED EVERY WITNESS AND EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE. THEY DISCUSSED AND DEBATED THE EVIDENCE AMONG THEMSELVES BEFORE ARRIVING AT THEIR COLLECTIVE DECISION. AFTER THEIR EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW, THE GRAND JURY DELIBERATED AND MADE THEIR FINAL DECISION. THEY DETERMINED THAT NO PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO FILE ANY CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER WILSON AND RETURN A NO TRUE ON EACH OF THE FIVE INDICTMENTS. THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE EXAMINED BY THE GRAND JURY COMBINED WITH A WITNESS STATEMENT SUPPORTED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THAT PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HELD THE ACCURATE AND TRAGIC STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE VERY GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF THE TESTIMONY AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY FOLLOWS -- AS I HAVE PROMISED, THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS AND THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES CALLED TO THE GRAND JURY WILL BE RELEASED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS STATEMENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45 A.M. ON SATURDAY THE NINTH OF AUGUST, FERGUSON POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON WAS THE DISPATCH TO AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING A TWO-MONTH-OLD INFANT HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. AT ABOUT 11:53 A.M., WILSON HEARD A RADIO BROADCAST OF STEALING IN PROGRESS AT A MARKET IN. THE BROADCAST ALSO INCLUDED A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT. A BLACK MALE, WEARING A WHITE T-SHIRT AND A BOX OF SWISHER CIG ARS. OFFICER WILSON REMAINED WITH THE MOTHER AND THE INFANT UNTIL EMS ARRIVED. OFFICER WILSON LEFT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN HIS POLICE VEHICLE, A CHEVY TAHOE SUV. AN ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT WAS RELEASED AT THAT TIME. HE WAS WITH ANOTHER MALE. AS OFFICER WILSON WAS ATTENDING TO HIS EMERGENCY CALL, MICHAEL BROWN AND A COMPANION WERE IN THE LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE. MICHAEL BROWN'S ACTIVITY IN THE STORE WAS RECORDED BY THE STORE SECURITY CAMERAS. THE VIDEO OFTEN PLAYED FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE IN AUGUST BY THE FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWS MICHAEL BROWN GRABBING A HANDFUL OF CIGARILLOS AND HEADING TOWARD THE EXIT WITHOUT PAYING. AS MICHAEL BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS LEFT THE STORE, SOMEBODY INSIDE CALLED THE POLICE. THE TWO WALKED EAST INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MR. BROWN DIRECTLY BEHIND HIS COMPANION. AS OFFICER WILSON CONTINUED WEST, HE ENCOUNTERED MR. BROWN AND HIS COMPANIONS TO WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. AS WILSON SLOWED, HE TOLD THEM TO MOVE TO THE SIDEWALK. WORDS WERE EXCHANGED AND THEY CONTINUED TO WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WILSON OBSERVED THAT MICHAEL BROWN HAD CIGARILLOS IN HIS HAND WHEN WAS WEARING A RED HAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:02 P.M., WILSON RADIOED HE HAD TO INDIVIDUALS AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. OFFICER WILSON BACKED HIS VEHICLE AT AN ANGLE BLOCKING THEIR PATH AND BLOCKING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SEVERAL CARS APPROACHED FROM BOTH EAST AND WEST BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS THE VEHICLE. AN ALTERCATION TOOK PLACE WITH OFFICER WILSON SEATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MR. BROWN STANDING AT THE DRIVERS WINDOW. DURING THE ALTERCATION, TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED BY OFFERS A WILSON WHILE STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MR. BROWN RAN EAST AND OFFICER WILSON GAVE CHASE. NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TO OFFICER WILSON. OFFICER WILSON ALSO STOP. AS MICHAEL BROWN MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON, SEVERAL MORE SHOTS WERE FIRED BY THE OFFICER AND MICHAEL BROWN WAS FATALLY WOUNDED. WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FINAL SHOT, THE ASSIST CAR ARRIVED. LESS THAN 90 SECONDS PASSED BETWEEN THE FIRST CONTACT AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE ASSIST CAR. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, EYEWITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY ME VERY AS -- BY VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS. WITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED BY LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOMETIMES TOGETHER AND SOMETIMES SEPARATELY. ALL THE STATEMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO THE OTHER PARTY. ALL PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE GRAND JURY FOR ALSO PRESENTED TO THE GRAND JURY WHETHER THEY WERE MEDIA INTERVIEWS OR INTERVIEWS BY THE FBI OR BY THE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE STATEMENTS OF ALL WITNESSES, CIVILIAN, LAW-ENFORCEMENT, EXPERTS WERE CHALLENGED BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, BY THE PROSECUTORS AND THE GRAND JURY THEMSELVES. A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR CHALLENGING A STATEMENT IS TO COMPARE IT TO THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS OF THE WITNESS FOR CONSISTENCY AND TO COMPARE IT WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PRESSURE OR PERSONAL AGENDA. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT LOOK AWAY AS EVENTS UNFOLD NOR DOES IT BLACKOUT OR ADDED TO MEMORY. IT REMAINS CONSTANT AND IS A SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH CASES ARE BUILT. WHEN STATEMENTS CHANGE, WITNESSES WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE INCONSISTENCIES AND CONFLICT BETWEEN THEIR STATEMENTS AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SOME WITNESSES ADMITTED THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING OR ONLY SAW PART OF THE SHOOTING. ONLY REPEATING WHAT THEY HEARD ON THE STREET. SOME OTHERS ADJUSTED PARTS OF THEIR STATEMENTS TO FIT THE FACTS. OTHERS STOOD BY ORIGINAL STATEMENTS EVEN THOUGH THEIR STATEMENTS WERE COMPLETELY DISCREDITED BY THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. SEVERAL WITNESSES DESCRIBE SEEING AN ALTERCATION IN THE CAR BETWEEN MR. BROWN AND OFFICER WILSON. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS WRESTLING, TUG-OF-WAR. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES DESCRIBED MR. BROWN AS PUNCHING OFFICER WILSON WHILE MR. BROWN WAS PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. MANY OF THE WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD A GUNSHOT WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STILL PARTIALLY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID THAT NO PART OF MR. BROWN WAS EVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE SHOT WAS FIRED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW WHILE MR. BROWN WAS STANDING OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE AND OFFICER WILSON'S CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT WAS EXAMINED BY VARIOUS TECHNICIANS AND SCIENTISTS. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND OR DNA WERE LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR. HIS BLOOD AND DNA WERE FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD AND DNA WAS FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER DOOR. THE UPPER LEFT THIGH OF OFFICER WILSON'S PANT LEG, THE FRONT CALLER OF OFFICER WILSON ASSURED AND ON OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON. ADDITIONALLY, A BULLET FIRED FROM OFFICER WILSON'S WEAPON WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVER DOOR. THE SHOT WAS FIRED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE DOOR IN A DOWNWARD ANGLE AT THE ARMREST. THE SECOND BULLET WAS NOT RECOVERED. REGARDING THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS OF MR. BROWN, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE THREE SEPARATE AUTOPSIES WERE CONDUCTED -- ONE BY ST. LOUIS COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICE, ONE BY A PRIVATE PATHOLOGIST, ONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THE RESULT OF ALL THREE AUTOPSIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ALL SIGNIFICANT RESPECTS. MR. BROWN HAD A GUNSHOT GRAZE WOUND ON HIS RIGHT THUMB. THE PATH WAS AWAY FROM THE TIP OF THE HAND CONSISTENT WITH A CLOSE RANGE GUNSHOT. OFFICER WILSON ALSO HAD A MEDICAL EXAMINATION WHICH INDICATED SOME SWELLING AND REDNESS TO HIS FACE. ALMOST ALL WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER THEY HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED WHILE MR. BROWN WAS UP A CAR, HE HESITATED AND THEN RAN EAST. MOST STATED THAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND CHASED AFTER HIM. SOME WITNESSES STATED WILSON FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS HE CHASED AFTER HIM STRIKING HIM AT LEAST -- AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SAID ONE OF THE SHOTS STRUCK MR. BROWN. OTHER STATED HE DID NOT FIRE UNTIL MR. BROWN TURNED AND CAME BACK TOWARDS THE OFFICER. AT LEAST ONE WITNESS STATED THAT AS OFFICER WILSON GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE, HE SHOT MR. BROWN MULTIPLE TIMES AS MR. BROWN STOOD NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. YET ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT OFFICER WILSON STUCK HIS GUN OUTSIDE THE WINDOW AND FIRED AT MR. BROWN AS MR. BROWN WAS RUNNING. ONE WITNESS STATED THERE WAS ACTUALLY TOWO POLICE VEHICLES. MOST WITNESSES AGREED THAT NEW THE CORNER -- NEAR THE CORNER, MR. BROWN STOPPED AND TURNED AROUND FACING OFFICER WILSON. SUNSETTED MR. BROWN DID NOT MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AT ALL BUT WERE SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AS HE STOOD NEAR THE CORNER WITH HIS HANDS RAISED. IN SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAND JURY, MANY OF THE SAME WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE SHOOTING. SUMMER RUNNING FOR COVER, SOME WERE RELATING WHAT THEY HEARD FROM OTHERS OR THEY SAID WHAT THEY ASSUMED HAPPENED IN THAT CASE. SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES MAINTAINED THEIR ORIGINAL STATEMENT THAT MR. BROWN HAD HIS HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAS NOT MOVING TOWARDS THE OFFICER WHEN HE WAS SHOT. OTHERS SAID HE WAS SHOT -- IT'S USUALLY -- SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THAT MR. BROWN DID NOT RAISE HIS HANDS AT ALL OR THAT HE RAISED THEM BRIEFLY AND THEN DROP THEM AND TURNED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHO FIRED SEVERAL ROUNDS. OTHER WITNESSES STATED MR. BROWN STOPPED FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD AND MOVE TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON AGAIN. ONE DESCRIBES HIS MOVEMENT AS A FULL CHARGE. ACCORDING TO SOME WITNESSES, OFFICER WILSON STOPPED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STOPPED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AND RESUMED FIRING WHEN MR. BROWN STARTED MOVING TOWARDS HIM AGAIN. THESE WITNESSES DID NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA. THE DESCRIPTION OF HOW MR. BROWN'S HANDS, RAISED HIS HANDS OR THE POSITION OF HIS HANDS, IS NOT CONSISTENT AMONG THE WITNESSES. SOME DESCRIBE IS AND IS BEING OUT TO HIS SIDES, SOME SAID IN FRONT OF HIM. SOME SAID HIS AUNT RAISED BY HIS HEAD OR BY HIS SHOULDERS. OTHERS DESCRIBE HIS HANDS IS BEING IN A RUNNING POSITION OR INTERESTS -- IN FISTS. THERE ARE VARIOUS WITNESS STATEMENTS REGARDING MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENT AFTER HE STOPPED AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID MR. BROWN NEVER MOVED TOWARDS OFFICER WILSON WHEN HE WAS SHOT. MOST SAID THE SHOTS WERE FIRED AS HE MOVED TOWARDS WILSON. MR. BROWN'S MOVEMENTS WERE DESCRIBED AS WALKING, MOVING FAST, STUMBLING OR FULL CHARGE. THE VARYING DESCRIPTIONS WERE SOMETIMES PROVIDED BY THE SAME WITNESSES IN SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS FOR TESTIMONY. THE ENTIRE AREA WAS PROCESSED BY THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY CRIME SCENE UNIT. A TOTAL OF 12 ROUNDS WERE FIRED BY OFFICER WILSON. TWO SHOTS OF THE CAR, 10 MORE FARTHER EAST. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A GRAZE WOUND TO HIS THUMB WHILE STANDING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. HE SUSTAINED SIX OR SEVEN MORE GUNSHOT WOUNDS DEPENDING UPON WHETHER ONE OF THE SHOTS WAS AN ENTRY OR REENTRY WOUND. MR. BROWN SUSTAINED A SECOND GRAZE WOUND, AND OTHER GRAZE WOUND, TO HIS RIGHT BICEP. HE ALSO SUSTAINED WOUNDS TO HIS RIGHT FOREARM, UPPER FRONT RIGHT ARM, LATERAL RIGHT CHEST, UPPER RIGHT CHEST, FOR HEAD AND TOP OF THE HEAD. THE TOP OF THE HEAD, FOREHEAD AND PERHAPS THE UPPER RIGHT CHEST WERE CONSISTENT WITH HIS BODY BEING BENT FORWARD AT THE WAIST. EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST AND LAST WOUND, THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF THE SHOTS. TO GRAZE WOUND OF THE THUMB SUSTAINED AT THE VEHICLE WAS LIKELY THE FIRST WOUND. IT WAS THE ONLY CLOSE RANGE SHOT. THE SHOT AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD WAS MOST LIKELY THE LAST. IT WOULD'VE RENDERED HIM IMMEDIATELY UNCONSCIOUS AND INCAPACITATED. MR. BROWN'S BODY WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 153 FEET EAST OF OFFICER WILSON'S CAR. MR. BROWN'S BLOOD WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET FARTHER EAST PAST HIS BODY. AND NEARBY TENET DURING A VIDEO CHAT INADVERTENTLY CAPTURED THE FINAL TED SHOTS -- 0 10 SHOTS ON TAPE. THERE WAS A STRING OF SHOTS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF PAUSE AND THEN ANOTHER STRING OF SHOTS. AS I STATED EARLIER, THE EVIDENCE AND THE TESTIMONY WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING THE STATEMENT. I AM EVER MINDFUL THAT THIS DECISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY SOME AND MAY CAUSE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR OTHERS. ALL DECISIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE PHYSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND THE CREDIBLE TESTIMONY CORROBORATED BY THAT EVIDENCE, NOT IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC OUTCRY. DECISIONS ON A MATTER IS SERIOUS IN CHARGING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A CRIME CANNOT BE DECIDED ON ANYTHING LESS THAN COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE. ANYTHING LESS IS NOT JUSTICE. IT IS MY SWORN DUTY AND THAT OF THE GRAND JURY TO SEEK JUSTICE AND NOT SIMPLY OBTAIN AN INDICTMENT OR CONVICTION. DURING THIS EXTREMELY TENSE AND PAINFUL TIME THAT WE HAVE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AND ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND WATCHING HOW WE RESPOND AND HOW WE REACT. I WOULD URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WITH THE LOSS OF THAT WAS SUFFERED BY THE BROWN FAMILY, NO YOUNG MAN SHOULD EVER DIED. THIS IS A TRAGIC LOSS REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS OPEN OLD WOUNDS AND GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO ADDRESS THOSE WOUNDS AS OPPOSED TO WHERE THEY JUST FADE AWAY IN THE PAST. HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THAT LEAD TO INCIDENTS LIKE THIS. YET AFTER A TIME, IT JUST FADES AWAY. I URGE EVERYONE WHO WAS ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION, ENGAGED IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS TO KEEP THAT GOING. NOT TO LET THAT GO. TO DO IT IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, I WAY WE CAN PROFIT FROM THIS. A WAY THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS BY CHANGING THE STRUCTURE, CHANGING SOME OF THE ISSUES, BY SOLVING THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO THE SORTS OF THINGS. WITH MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY, THE CLERGY, WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE ELSE -- THE END OF -- THE NAACP. THE URBAN LEAGUE. EVERY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, PRIVATE CITIZEN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THE DEMONSTRATION, CONTINUED THE DISCUSSION, ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS BUT DO SO IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, NOT DESTRUCTIVE.
JESUS CHRIST.
tl;dr
The GJ's role in these officer involved shooting cases is different from the normal GJ case, in that it is investigatory. The logic behind it is that in the case of police officer, because the taking of a life is considered a potential task within his assigned duties, he shouldn't be placed on the same footing as a citizen who kills, who does not have that authority.
I thought some of the witnesses were going to be problematic. One of the problems with witnesses in these cases and police misconduct cases is that because they perceive a wrong has been done, they think it is appropriate, the right thing to do, to guess or assume facts that fit the narrative, then incorporate that into their testimony. I found the allegation that Brown after voicing an intent to surrender with hands raised in surrender was then subsequently shot. Was not there but I struggled to find the specifics of that narrative credible. Overzealous witnesses were a potential problem with this case.
Will we ever know exactly what happened? No. So, we are left with the Grand Jury decision. People like the OP will celebrate this. Rioters will act like idiots who don't care about Brown anyway, will react idiotically. T
he biggest problem will be the many people, particularly Black people, the vast majority who are not criminals, already distrustful of the police will see this as another bitter pill they have to swallow. And, the pill is washed down with the cheers and adulation of people like PA Giants fan. It builds up resentment, hate, and distrust. Things that will eat away at them until the nest time this happens.
Grand Jury has spoken. Regardless of whether one is pleased with that decision, they should be pleased with the fact that we have the system we have. I am. I am also pleased that PA Giant Fan isn't a cop. As a former police boss, if I knew I had a guy like that walking around with gun and a badge - I'd never be able to sleep at night.
Would it be better if Wilson had executed Brown in the middle of the street?
The truth is there are a bunch of apologists for the behavior of pieces of crap in Ferguson and needed to hear that Wilson was a murderer to justify their misguided position.
There should be a sigh of relief to hear the testimony and see the cop did not commit murder. Instead there is continued nonsense to justify the ridiculousness that has occurred.
Quote:
Last night, the National Bar Association, "the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges," issued a statement calling for Federal Charges to be brought against Officer Wilson.
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Bar Association is questioning how the Grand Jury, considering the evidence before them, could reach the conclusion that Darren Wilson should not be indicted and tried for the shooting death of Michael Brown. National Bar Association President Pamela J. Meanes expresses her sincere disappointment with the outcome of the Grand Jury’s decision but has made it abundantly clear that the National Bar Association stands firm and will be calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue federal charges against officer Darren Wilson. “We will not rest until Michael Brown and his family has justice” states Pamela Meanes, President of the National Bar Association.....
All that says is that you can be a judge or a lawyer, see all the facts, and still be ruled by race. It's sad.
Quote:
McCulloch also said, "Officer Wilson had faced charges ranging from first-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter." LINK - ( New Window )
But he never informed the GJ that
Yes he did. He said in his speech they were presented with 5 different indictments.
Quote:
In comment 12001297 montanagiant said:
Quote:
These are not mine but they are fair questions to ask.
1)McCulloch gave the jury no instruction on what charges they should consider. Many sources have said that the jury could have considered first degree murder, second degree murder or various levels of manslaughter. True enough. They might have also considered illegal discharge of a firearm. Or assault.
2)Some are questioning why he did not recuse himself due to having a close relationship with this Police dept and his personal past of his police officer father shot dead while in the line of duty
3)McCulloch has a rep for being very active with GJ indictments. In the majority of incidents McCulloch actively speaks with the jury, directing them in what to look for, discussing possible charges, clearing up issues, actively seeking an indictment. He didn't do that in this case.
In this case, the grand jury was given a mountain of evidence, and next to no help in how they should deal with it. It's exactly how McCulloch would not handle any other case. This "hands off" attitude wasn't just unusual, it's precisely a negation of what a prosecutor is asked to do. McCulloch didn't prosecute.
4)how is it that what the grand jury was told about Wilson's knowledge of the incident at the store involving cigars is completely at odds with the public testimony of the Ferguson police chief two days after the incident? How is it that Wilson having "made" Brown as a suspect in a robbery, called for backup, but that call is not recorded in any of the released transcripts of police communications? That whole section of McCulloch's statement, covering Wilson's extremely unusual testimony before the grand jury, is completely at odds with everything we were told for the last four months.
1.) McCulloch said he gave them 5 different indictments to consider.
2.) Any evidence that he's been favorable to police officers in the past?
3.) What did you want him to do? Only give the false stories from those who said Brown had his hands up and was shot running away? Cmon. People want a full investigation and then they are upset because the Grand Jury was given a "mountain of evidence".
4.) The Chief said he didn't know about the robbery when he initially stopped Brown and Johnson. That is exactly in line with everything Wilson has said. He stopped them for walking in the road. He then noticed the cigars and noticed they matched the description, that's when he realized they were probably the ones who robbed the store. He was recorded saying he was out on canfield with two, and i believe he asked for another unit. The rest of his radio traffic did not go through, most likely because his radio channel was changed when Mike Brown was attacking him in the car.
HB, in Wilsons testimony to the GJ he claimed:
"Wilson told the unnamed detective questioning him that shortly after getting a call about a "stealing in progress" at the Ferguson Market, he drove past two black males walking down the middle of the street."
That is contrary to the official statements by the Police Dept.
He clarified that by saying the call wasn't for him. He heard the call come over the radio, but he only heard part of it. When he first contacted them, he only contacted them because they were walking on the yellow line in the middle of the road. When he drove past them, he saw the cigars and realized they matched the description. He immediately called for another car after telling them he was out with two on Canfield.
Would it be better if Wilson had executed Brown in the middle of the street?
The truth is there are a bunch of apologists for the behavior of pieces of crap in Ferguson and needed to hear that Wilson was a murderer to justify their misguided position.
There should be a sigh of relief to hear the testimony and see the cop did not commit murder. Instead there is continued nonsense to justify the ridiculousness that has occurred.
In addition to celebrating the outcome, you are celebrating Michael Brown's death. You are a shit stain.
FYI: I have been on the scene of several officer involved shootings resulting in citizen deaths, all involved co-workers, some personal friends. Contrary to your reaction, not one of them - not one - celebrated the life they took. It bothered them, every last one of them and it stays with them to this day. There was no high fivin, trash talking, celebrating - they took a life and they wish they didn't have to. They regret it although it was necessary - none of them celebrated it.
All went through the grand jury and had to endure varying levels of protest and negative media coverage. Despite that, they still never said - I'm glad that guy is dead. You run your mouth about stuff you know nothing about and will never have to do.
And don't build pathetic straw men for me. "Would it be better if Officer Wilson had died?" Because I get tired of reading your obnoxious crap- that means I would have preferred to see a cop get killed? What I squeezed out in the toilet bowl this morning contains more information about how to keep police officers safe than will ever reside inside that head of yours.
Yep. he was on a medical call in the area. When the child was taken by the ambulance, he cleared the scene. He encountered the two impeding traffic walking down the yellow line and had to block traffic. That's when he noticed they fit the description and called for backup.
If they weren't walking down the middle of the road f&&n with traffic.
Story nevers happens.
He did try to wait. He tried to stall until backup arrived and he got attacked in his car. He wanted to get out of his car because sitting in your car makes you vulnerable. Once Brown ran, he wanted to keep an eye on him because he literally just assaulted a police officer and tried to take his gun...not a good idea to let him just run off.
Here's a story by a Wisconsin man whose son was killed in a questionable incident.
Money quote:
"In 129 years since police and fire commissions were created in the state of Wisconsin, we could not find a single ruling by a police department, an inquest or a police commission that a shooting was unjustified".
Wisconsin story - ( New Window )
Murphy's Law in action.
And neither do any of you. And if you say you do, tell me how many hours you have spent volunteering or supporting violent felons in prisons because if Brown had not been killed that day, that is what he would be.
Are you guys who bitch at me going to tell me you spend time supporting violent felons in prison that have assaulted police officers and tried to kill them? Tell me how many people in prison for attacking police officers you give a shit about.
In other words some of you are full of shit and trying to support your awful position.
Wonder how many of the arrested are out of state residence and/or were paid.