Recent grand jury leaks match original police reports in Ferguson

Multiple leaks have seemingly come from insiders directly familiar with the Darren Wilson grand jury proceedings in Missouri during the last week. The grand jury is considering if Wilson, a police officer in Ferguson, was justified in killing Michael Brown on Aug. 4.

From the St. Louis Dispatch yesterday morning.

Police Officer Darren Wilson told investigators that in a struggle for his pistol inside a police SUV, Michael Brown pressed the barrel of Wilson’s gun against the officer’s hip, according to a source with knowledge of his statements.

Wilson tried to prevent Brown from reaching the trigger, the source said, and when he thought he had control he fired. But Brown’s hand was blocking the mechanism.

When Wilson got two shots off, Brown was hit in the hand and ran. Wilson fired again when Brown turned back and charged at him, Wilson told investigators.

The first leak is reported by the New York Times on Oct. 17, and did not reveal information concerning events that happened after Brown allegedly attacked Wilson as the officer was trying to get out of the car.

The police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., two months ago has told investigators that he was pinned in his vehicle and in fear for his life as he struggled over his gun with Mr. Brown, according to government officials briefed on the federal civil rights investigation into the matter.

The officer, Darren Wilson, has told the authorities that during the scuffle, Mr. Brown reached for the gun. It was fired twice in the car, according to forensics tests performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The first bullet struck Mr. Brown in the arm; the second bullet missed.

The forensics tests showed Mr. Brown’s blood on the gun, as well as on the interior door panel and on Officer Wilson’s uniform. Officer Wilson told the authorities that Mr. Brown had punched and scratched him repeatedly, leaving swelling on his face and cuts on his neck.

At least two media reports – including one from the St. Louis Dispatch – noted the Oct. 17 leak did not explain or reference the additional shots fired by Wilson. Yesterday morning’s leak posted in the Dispatch provides that information.

The day after the shooting, the Ferguson Police Department held a press conference and the first reports match the grand jury leaks.

http://youtu.be/s4osIUmBAWI

Let me be blunt about Dorian Johnson’s recount of the events. I think he is lying. After the altercation “got real” with Brown attacking Wilson at the car door and the first shot was fired, I’m willing to bet Johnson turned tail and ran. Ran like the wind. He ran in a different direction than Brown. From the New York Times, with my emphasis.

It was fired twice in the car, according to forensics tests performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The first bullet struck Mr. Brown in the arm; the second bullet missed.

The forensics tests showed Mr. Brown’s blood on the gun, as well as on the interior door panel and on Officer Wilson’s uniform.

Then we have the unscripted eyewitness account recorded at the scene minutes after the shooting. Plenty of what is considered offensive language in the full-length video, so it will not be embedded here, but here is a partial clip with subtitles.

Then we have the caller to Dana Loesch’s radio show on Aug. 15. “Josie” was identified as a friend of Wilson.

A transcript for you which starts at about 1:43 in, and it’s important to point out this version provided to the media two days prior to the preliminary autopsy report released on Aug. 17. “Josie” states the report will show Brown was not shot in the back like some “witnesses” were claiming. Brown was not running away, he was rushing at Wilson.

… He pulled up ahead of them. And then he got a call-in that there was a strong-arm robbery. And, they gave a description. And, he’s looking at them and they got something in their hands and it looks like it could be what, you know those cigars or whatever. So he goes in reverse back to them. Tries to get out of his car. They slam his door shut violently. I think he said Michael did. And, then he opened the car again. He tried to get out. He stands up.

And then Michael just bum-rushes him and shoves him back into his car. Punches him in the face and then Darren grabs for his gun. Michael grabbed for the gun. At one point he got the gun entirely turned against his hip. And he shoves it away. And the gun goes off.

Well, then Michael takes off and gets to be about 35 feet away. And, Darren’s first protocol is to pursue. So, he stands up and yells, “Freeze!” Michael and his friend turn around. And Michael taunts him… And then all the sudden he just started to bumrush him. He just started coming at him full speed. And, so he just started shooting. And, he just kept coming. And, so he really thinks he was on something. …”

Of course, the Brown family lawyer does not believe any of it.

Told of Wilson’s version of events, Brown family lawyer Anthony Gray scoffed, calling it “absurd from beginning to end” and a “concocted version of events that nobody supports,” referring to other public witness statements. …

“This story just doesn’t even make good nonsense.”

There is nothing absurd about Wilson’s account of events, especially since there seems to be no discrepancies at all within the information provided above, except of course from Johnson. I expect the forensic evidence available and provided to the grand jury will match the details provided by Wilson and police.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

2 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on October 23, 2014 at 9:19 am

    Brown, like Trayvon Martin, are both violent youths that paid for their violence. The only reason this is a story is because of the racial aspects. Black cop/white perp, no riots and no story.

    The Grand Jury is simply trying to quell the rioting before doing what they must: releasing Wilson because he was simply defending himself against a hoodlum that happened to be black. Let the race baiters have their fun, but let the innocent guy go.



  2. Lynn on October 23, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    Let the innocent policeman be released and if there is a riot, the lawbreakers should be arrested. But for goodness sakes we can’t be intimidated by threats of violence. We are still a country of laws, i think?



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