Ferguson cop says he feared for life in struggle with teen

Feb. 11, 2014: Officer Darren Wilson attends a city council meeting in Ferguson (AP Photo/City of Ferguson, File)

WASHINGTON –  The police officer who fatally shot an unarmed 18-year-old in a St. Louis suburb last summer has told investigators that he was pinned in his vehicle and in fear for his life as they struggled over his gun, The New York Times reported.

Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson has told authorities that Michael Brown reached for the gun during a scuffle, the Times reported in a story posted on its website Friday night. The officer’s account to authorities did not explain why he fired at Brown multiple times after emerging from his vehicle, according to the newspaper.

The Times reported that the account of Wilson’s version of events came from government officials briefed on the federal civil rights investigation into the Aug. 9 shooting that sparked racial unrest and weeks of protests, some of which turned violent. Wilson is white and Brown black.

Wilson confronted Brown and a friend while they were walking back to Brown’s home from a convenience store. After the shooting, Brown died at the scene. Some witnesses have told authorities and news media that Brown had his hands raised when Wilson approached with his weapon and fired repeatedly. An independent autopsy commissioned by the family says that Brown was shot at least six times, including twice in the head.

The Times reported that Wilson has told investigators that he was trying to leave his SUV when Brown pushed him back in and that once inside the vehicle the two began to fight. Wilson told authorities that Brown punched and scratched him repeatedly, leaving swelling on his face and cuts on his neck, the Times reported.

Wilson, who had been patrolling Ferguson for nearly three years, was placed on leave after the shooting. A state grand jury is considering charges against him.

The Justice Department is investigating the Ferguson Police Department for possible civil rights violations, including whether officers there use excessive force and engage in discriminatory practices. Two-thirds of Ferguson’s 21,000 residents are black but only three of its more than 50 police officers are black.

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Ferguson cop says he feared for life in struggle with teen

Ferguson charging high price for Brown case files - VIDEO: Ferguson officer shot

Sept. 24, 2014: Several hundred people pack a room on the St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley campus during a meeting held by the Department of Justice to talk about the agency’s investigation of the Ferguson police department (AP)

WASHINGTON –  Bureaucrats in Ferguson, Missouri, responding to requests under the state’s Sunshine Act to turn over government files about the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, are charging nearly 10 times the cost of some of their own employees’ salaries before they will agree to release any records.

The move discourages journalists and civil rights groups from investigating the shooting and its aftermath.

The city has demanded high fees to produce copies of records that, under Missouri law, it could give away free if it determined the material was in the public’s interest to see. Instead, in some cases, the city has demanded high fees with little explanation or cost breakdown. It billed The Associated Press $135 an hour — for nearly a day’s work — merely to retrieve a handful of email accounts since the shooting.

That fee compares with an entry-level, hourly salary of $13.90 in the city clerk’s office, and it didn’t include costs to review the emails or release them. The AP has not paid for the search.

Price-gouging for government files is one way that local, state and federal agencies have responded to requests for potentially embarrassing information they may not want released. Open records laws are designed to give the public access to government records at little or no cost, and have historically exposed waste, wrongdoing and corruption.

“The first line of defense is to make the requester go away,” said Rick Blum, who coordinates the Sunshine in Government Initiative, a coalition of media groups that advocates for open government. “Charging exorbitant fees to simply cut and paste is a popular tactic.”

Since Brown’s death and ensuing protests, news organizations, nonprofit groups and everyday citizens have submitted records requests to Ferguson officials, asking for police reports, records about Brown and the personnel files of Officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown Aug. 9.

Organizations like the website Buzzfeed were told they’d have to pay unspecified thousands of dollars for emails and memos about Ferguson’s traffic-citation policies and changes to local elections. The Washington Post said Ferguson wanted no less than $200 for its requests.

A city spokeswoman referred inquiries about public records requests to the city’s attorney, Stephanie Karr, who declined to respond to repeated interview requests from the AP since earlier this month.

Some states provide public records for free or little cost, while others like Missouri can require fees that “result in the lowest charges for search, research and duplication.” The AP asked for a fee waiver because it argued the records would serve the public interest, as the law allows, but that request was denied.

A spokesman for Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon referred questions about the high fees to the state’s attorney general, who handles freedom-of-information complaints. A spokeswoman for his office said none had been filed on the issue.

In late August, the AP asked Ferguson officials for copies of several police officials’ emails and text messages, including those belonging to Wilson and Chief Thomas Jackson. The AP sought those records to reveal the city’s behind-the-scenes response to the shooting and public protests.

Ferguson told the AP it wanted nearly $2,000 to pay a consulting firm for up to 16 hours of work to retrieve messages on its own email system, a practice that information technology experts call unnecessary. The firm, St. Louis-based Acumen Consulting, wouldn’t comment specifically on Ferguson’s contract, but said the search could be more complicated and require technicians to examine tape backups.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri filed a public records lawsuit days after the shooting for Brown-related police reports, but ultimately received a censored report that omitted officers’ names and other details usually released in such documents.

Jonathan Groves, president of the Missouri Sunshine Coalition and a former daily journalist, said that while public agencies can legally charge reasonable fees for records, an unfettered Sunshine Law is nonetheless an important tool “so that we have faith in what the government is doing.”

Other governments also have demanded spectacular fees. During the 2008 presidential campaign, for instance, news organizations asked for emails belonging to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee.

The Anchorage Press said officials at first wanted $6,500 in search fees, leading the newspaper to withdraw its request. Thousands of pages of those emails were ultimately provided to news organizations for about $725 in copying charges.

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Ferguson charging high price for Brown case files - VIDEO: Ferguson officer shot

ADDED TENSION Two suspects sought after Ferguson officer shot

September 27, 2014: A police officer takes pictures outside the Ferguson Community Center in Ferguson, Mo. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Huy Mach).

Authorities said a Ferguson (Mo.) police officer was shot and wounded while on patrol Saturday evening.

St. Louis County Police Sgt. Brian Schellman said the shooting took place at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time. KTVI reported that the officer was shot in the arm and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. At least a dozen law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting, and police helicopters canvassed the area, but no arrests were immediately reported.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar told reporters early Sunday that the officer was shot after approaching two men at the Ferguson Community Center, which was closed at the time. As the officer approached, the men ran away. When the officer gave chase, “one of the men turned and shot,” Belmar said.

Belmar did not give further details about the officer’s condition. He said the officer returned fire but said police have “no indication” that either suspect was shot.

The shooting comes amid a fresh flare-up of unrest following the deadly August 9 shooting of a black teenager, Michael Brown, by a white police officer, Darren Wilson. The shooting sparked days of violent protests and racial unrest in the predominantly black community. Some residents and civil rights activists have said responding police officers were overly aggressive, noting their use of tear gas and surplus military vehicles and gear. 

Saturday’s shooting occurred approximately two miles from where Brown died near his grandmother’s apartment building. KTVI reported that dozens of protesters initially showed up at the scene in the mistaken belief that the officer had shot someone. By midnight, approximately two dozen officers stood near a group of about 100 protesters who mingled on a street corner across from the police department, occasionally shouting, “No justice; no peace.”

On Thursday night, Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson attempted to march with protesters hours after releasing a videotaped apology to Brown’s family. In it, Jackson acknowledged Brown’s body should have been removed from the street much sooner than the four hours it was there as police collected evidence.

He insisted officers meant no disrespect to the community or the family. “I’m truly sorry for the loss of your son,” Jackson said.

Witnesses said Jackson agreed to join marchers Thursday but failed to tell officers monitoring his safety to stand down. They said that led to some officers forcing their way into the gathering, then pushing and shoving marchers. Several protesters were arrested.

“If (the officers) had just not come in, everything would be all right,” protester Steven Wash, 26, of Ferguson, said Friday.

“Jackson decided to come out and broker some peace and pretty much asked what he could do to build a new level of trust, and police continued to come, come, come,” Wade added. “The olive branch he tried to extend was great, and it showed he wasn’t a robot. But police forced him out like he was a diplomat in a war zone.”

The unrest Thursday occurred two days after many in the St. Louis suburb complained police did little to douse a fire that destroyed a makeshift Brown memorial. 

The Justice Department, which is investigating whether Brown’s civil rights were violated, is conducting a broader probe into Ferguson police. On Friday, it urged Jackson to ban his officers from wearing bracelets supporting Wilson while on duty and from covering up their name plates with black tape.

Ferguson residents complained about the bracelets, which are black with “I am Darren Wilson” in white lettering, at a meeting with federal officials this week.

Brown’s shooting has also focused attention on the lack of diversity in many police departments across the country. In Ferguson, of 53 officers in a community that is two-thirds black, only three are African-American.

Also early Sunday, not far from Ferguson, an off-duty St. Louis city police officer was injured on Interstate 70 when three suspects fired shots into his personal vehicle, a police spokeswoman said.

Schron Jackson said the officer, who has nearly 20 years of experience, was being treated at a hospital for a minor injury to his arm from broken glass. She said there is no reason to believe the two shootings were related.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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ADDED TENSION Two suspects sought after Ferguson officer shot

Cancer-treatment equipment coming -- Ferguson

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, says that discussions are advanced with a leading Canadian hospital for the acquisition of equipment to improve cancer treatment in the local public health sector.

Ferguson said that during a recent visit to Canada, he was able to make “significant progress” with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for the supply of two Linear Accelerator machines, which are used for radiotherapy treatment.“We are closer to achieving our objective of getting two Linear Accelerator machines. As it is now, we only have one in the private sector, and we are moving to have two in the public sector,” the Minister said, while addressing Friday’s (August 30) groundbreaking ceremony for expansion of the St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital in St Ann.He stated that the acquisition of the machines “will take a tremendous burden off our cancer patients”. Dr Ferguson said that the Government is committed to reducing the cost of cancer treatment and care.“Cancer care remains a burden for individuals and families, and part of my mandate is to work to get cancer care down to a certain manageable level. There is a particular drug that is going at over J$200,000 per dose, and for persons with breast cancer, you need 18 doses. We must find a way to get those prices down,” he stated.The Minister said that even as he works on improving care, he also has to encourage Jamaicans to adopt healthier lifestyle choices to reduce cancers and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).“This is why I have been so steadfast in my arguments against smoking in specified public places. We are facing a debilitating problem where NCDs are concerned. High blood pressure, diabetics, cancer, respiratory diseases; these NCDs are responsible for over 70 per cent of deaths in Jamaica,” he said.JISLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Cancer-treatment equipment coming -- Ferguson

Hug up education, Ferguson urges parents and scholarship winners

MINISTER of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson has underlined the importance of education in nation- building, and urged parents to invest heavily in their children’s future.

Dr Ferguson, who is also member of Parliament for St Thomas East, told an audience at the West Rural St Andrew Education Awards held at the Country Style Restaurant in Stony Hill, St Andrew last Thursday night, that even as they get assistance from those who care for them, they should never shut the door on the hand that fed them.“I am fanatic about education,” Dr Ferguson said. “I say to parents, the best investment you can make in your children is education. It’s better than land, car, house, or even wigs. It is important that you continue to make the sacrifice to buy the books and continue to make this investment in education,” he told a full house.“Education is the key to liberation and we have been liberated, but we sometimes tend to forget where we are coming from. One of the greatest sins of mankind is ingratitude. When some get through, they forget mommy and forget daddy.“No matter how bright you are today, there is nothing in life like a good attitude. One of the lessons I learned as a practitioner is as long as you are compassionate, you will make it,” the minister said.Dr Ferguson said that even before he became an MP, he had a scholarship programme in place, realising the importance of educating the people.He praised the work of member of Parliament for the area, Paul Buchanan, describing him as having a sense of mission.He urged scholarship recipients to demonstrate good core values, be honest, show dedication and respect to everyone.“Do not take the education assistance for granted. Education is preparation for eating. There is no job for life anymore. There was a time when long service awards were 35 and 40 years. Now, long service awards come after five years.“So prepare yourself, become multi-skilled, because when you are well-qualified, people want you. You also need to be competitive, because for every one that gets through, 99 do not get through,” he said.Dr Ferguson, who piloted and implemented a recent move to ban smoking in public places, also underlined the importance of young people staying away from tobacco use.“It is the young people who tobacco always entices. Nicotine is one of the most dangerous substances affecting mankind. I am a pro-health crusader, because tobacco causes every type of cancer. If we cut down on smoking, you will see less heart attacks, less strokes and fewer other diseases.“It is my mandate to protect the health of Jamaica,” Dr Ferguson said.Buchanan, who allocated $3.8 million from his portion of the Constituency Development Fund to assist the education thrust, also underscored the need for continuous learning.“This evening is a watershed occasion for West Rural St Andrew. The only way forward to stability and growth for our country is through education,” he said, arguing that the awarding of scholarships and book grants were done in a non-partisan manner.“We love party politics too much in this country. It is time we put education at the forefront, instead of politics,” he stressed.Touting information technology as the way forward, Buchanan urged the gathering to embrace what he described as the progressive way forward.“The past is gone, we can’t wait any longer. The logistics hub is coming and we don’t have the skills in place. We must go on the software programme and next month we will be going into our IT programme, “Buchanan said.Project manager of the CDF Moveta Munroe also urged recipients to make the best use of opportunities available and grasp them so that “together we will build a better Jamaica”.Hundreds of students received scholarships and book grants to various tertiary institutions, including the University of the West Indies, the University of Technology and the MICO University College.Assistance was also given to students about to enter high schools.Member of Parliament for West Rural St Andrew Paul Buchanan addresses scholarship winners.A section of the audience follows the programme with keen interest.Top student at Padmore Primary Joshua Hyman does a cultural act. In background are Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson (left), MP Paul Buchanan, and Moveta Munroe, head of the Constituency Development Fund Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister.Board members, chairpersons of school boards, and principals pay close attention.Guest speaker Dr Fenton Ferguson (right) presents Oberlin High School vice principal, Khafre Israel with a financial commitment to the institution.Scholarship awardee and UWI medical student Delores Coombs of Mount Cheerful, King Weston, gives the vote of thanks. (PHOTOS: MICHAEL GORDON)

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Hug up education, Ferguson urges parents and scholarship winners