As Ferguson Police Release Name Of Darren Wilson, They Make Mike Brown A Suspect
At a much-anticipated press conference Friday morning, Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson rolled out his department’s latest media strategy, pairing his announcement of six-year veteran Darren Wilson as the shooter of Mike Brown with information on a “strong-arm robbery” that occurred just before Wilson shot and killed the unarmed teenager.
Jackson haltingly delivered the information in a carefully-worded statement to reporters Friday morning, handing out a packet to media that contained information on a “strong-arm robbery” of a convenience store, including still frames from video surveillance. Without directly accusing Mike Brown of being the suspect in that robbery, Jackson recited a timeline of dispatch calls. He capped off the minutes-long presser by naming the officer involved, but still released no new details about the killing of Mike Brown, such as the number of shots that were fired. “The officer that was involved in the shooting of Michael Brown was Darren Wilson,” Jackson said. “He’s been a police officer for six years, has had no disciplinary action taken against him.”
If the press conference seems strange, perhaps Jackson’s comments near the top of it make things a bit clearer:
[su_center_ad]
“I won’t be taking any questions today… right now, not today, I won’t be taking any questions here. I want to give this information to you, let everybody digest it, and then later on sometime after noon, we can get together again, and then I’ll take questions.”
The object of this “press conference” was not to inform the public, but to roll out a media campaign. As of this morning, the questions on everyone’s minds were about the actions of the police, the name of the shooter, the number of times Mike Brown was shot as he fled, unarmed. Throwing out this raw information, without taking questions, gives the media a few hours to talk about things like these still frames:
As Don Lemon pointed out on CNN, although you can’t clearly see the suspect’s face, the hat and clothing match what Mike Brown was wearing when he was shot. Like a media Tom Sawyer, Jackson is hoping the media will spend a few hours painting that fence for him, shifting focus and suspicion onto Mike Brown, disseminating their view of him as a threat. Even as CNN began to show that image from the convenience store over and over again, and laid out a defense strategy for Darren Wilson, anchor Carol Costello wisely smelled a rat:
“I guess the problem I have — the police are just allowing the media to determine who this person is in the surveillance tape, and I’m not sure that that’s the right road.”
Many have been quick to point out that even if Mike Brown stole cigars, that crime does not carry an extrajudicial death sentence, but what this campaign has done…READ MORE[su_center_ad]
labman57 August 15th, 2014 at 3:33 pm
It would appear that Chief Jackson only wanted to release information which he believed would exonerate Officer Wilson of wrong-doing, and he is deliberately withholding any and all details that would indicate improper action was taken during the altercation.
Had Jackson believed that Brown was not involved in the cigar theft, it is likely that these details would not have been made public either.
Eric Trommater August 15th, 2014 at 3:35 pm
According to the Police Chief, Officer Wilson had no idea that Brown was a suspect in a robbery so the release of this tape was just a ham handed CYA and is only going to throw fuel on the fire! I have no sympathy for killer cops but how in the hell is Wilson going to get a fair trial after such a screw up by the Ferguson PD? No matter what comes out of the investigation it’s all going to look like a cover-up. They need to turn this over to the DOJ and not touch another piece of evidence because this has just plain tainted the whole process.
edmeyer_able August 15th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Joshua Holland @JoshuaHol
So now we know how many cigars Mike Brown allegedly stole but not how many bullets entered his body and from what direction.
NW10 August 15th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Looks like the robbery story is out the door:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ferguson-police-officer-not-aware-of-michael-brown-robbery-suspect
Tom Ward August 15th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
How so? Honestly, if he was actually being that aggressive toward the clerk then it’s really not that hard to believe he might have assaulted a cop only a few minutes later.
I don’t like how everyone immediately jumps to the conclusion that it must have been racism. It’s tragic a kid is dead and if the cop shot someone who was surrendering then he should be charged with murder… but the question still remains: Was it racial profiling? How can we know for sure unless the cop actually said something racist? We can’t, so we shouldn’t assume 100% one way or the other.
NW10 August 15th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
I meant out the door in regards to what Brown was being stopped for. I’m not saying it’s not him in the footage, but that this robbery had nothing to do with the incident in which Brown was murdered in cold blood.
R.J. Carter August 15th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
I’d be curious if the autopsy revealed anything in his system. If he were on something, it might account for why he would do something as stupid as (a) rob cigars and then (b) be aggressive to an officer (assuming that both (a) and (b) were what happened).
NW10 August 15th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
You know what they say about ASSUMING?
At this point, I don’t believe a word that the FPD say. They bungled this from day one: refusing to even address the situation, waiting days to release the name of the officer who killed Brown, releasing footage of Brown involved with this robbery only to have the police chief say said robbery was NOT connected with the incident in which Brown was shot. Until further evidence surfaces, I’m going to side with the eyewitnesses who say that Brown was shot in cold blood with his hands up, and I could totally believe it: Asshole cop lets his temper get the best of him and wants to teach one of “THOSE FOLKS” a lesson. That’s more plausible than the ever changing stories of the FPD.
Eric Trommater August 15th, 2014 at 4:08 pm
FPD really stuck their foot in it. I was one of those who said it was counter productive for anyone to speculate about anything but by releasing this video when they did in a blatant attempt to blame the victim I have to throw my hands up and just say ‘have at ’em.’ Everything that comes out of this investigation is now tainted by this clumsy smear attempt.
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Yes the brilliance of “let the people on the TV machine pick out the perp” … it could be a new reality show!!!
How STUPID can the FPD actually BE?
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:42 pm
I agree – especially since there seems to be an epidemic of our of control police beating up and killing people in this country.
Eric Trommater August 15th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
That’s about as productive at this point as trolling Wilson’s Facebook for racist remarks and just as presumptive don’t you think RJ?
R.J. Carter August 15th, 2014 at 4:23 pm
I’m just looking for a reason why he would have confronted the officer aggressively, if he confronted the officer aggressively.
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
And if he has nothing in his system? Then it’s black rage .. right? Why do you assume HE confronted the cop? Sounds like the cop confronted him. They were just walking – cop was in a car. I realize that they are black, but there ARE people who saw what happened.
R.J. Carter August 16th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
They were just walking — on their way from robbing a convenience store, where he had no problem confronting the cashier. People who’ve just robbed a place generally say “Yes sir” with a healthy amount of nerves, not do anything to attract attention, unless there’s an unnatural reason for continued aggression.
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
So shooting someone for walking while black is ok as long as it’s not racism?
Foundryman August 15th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
The police chief said the killer cop didn’t know Brown was a shoplifting suspect when he shot him. If anything, it makes it worse, now the cop confronted and killed the kid for jay walking?…
NW10 August 15th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
The Ferguson pigs are doing everything possible to “ni99erize” Michael Brown the way Trayvon Martin was.
Foundryman August 15th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Yep…
John Tarter August 15th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
I see, So you don’t really want to know the whole truth about Mr. Brown do you.? This does not excuse the cop from shooting him if he was trying to surrender, but it seems he’s not the “good” kid who was just minding his own business like many people have been trying to portray him as.
NW10 August 15th, 2014 at 4:23 pm
it seems he’s not the “good” kid who was just minding his own business like many people have been trying to portray him as.
And that’s the entire point, destroy the kid’s character, so that people will be more sympathetic to the pig that killed him.
We all did bad things growing up, it’s a part of being a kid. That doesn’t give any police officer the right to shoot to kill, except if said suspect is an immediate threat to police, and from eyewitness accounts, Brown was not a threat when he was surrendering with his hands up.
Even if you buy the now dismissed theory that Brown was shot and killed because he stole those cigars, stealing isn’t a capital crime. Does that mean that police now have the authority to kill any five year old who steals candy from a gas station?
Khary A August 15th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
seriously..it’s called being a young male.
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Actually yes … if the child is black … the cop evidently CAN shoot to kill .. for the crime of stealing candy. The child will be judged by the fact that he was a thief so therefore shooting him/her 8 times in the back and the face was “justified”.
New America Rules.
Khary A August 15th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Hmmm yeah please continue with this train of thought. It’s really fascinating to see how biased and bigoted you can be. “the whole truth” whats to know? the kids friggin’ dead and a cop killed him for no good reason. so what now you search for a reason that it was ok to do that. Is it so hard to believe that a young black male was just walking down the street not killing and raping? I see young males of all sorts walking down the middle of the street and guess what they don’t get shot in the face, At most they just get told to move out of the way. So again PLEASE I ask you please show me how well you can disparage a dead kid. It’s awesome to see.
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Because The Tarter has passed judgment upon the black youth and determined that the killing was justified because he wasn’t accepted into Yale?
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:34 pm
According to the POLICE Mr. Brown was shot for walking while black.
Being a “good” or a “bad” kid is not a reason for execution by police.
You seem to be trying very hard to justify a cop shooting a black teen for NO reason other than walking in the street because he wasn’t going to be a Rhodes Scholar. Your hatred is oozing from those pores of yours .. just like the Ferguson Police Chief.
R.J. Carter August 16th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
“You seem to be trying very hard to justify a cop shooting a black teen for NO reason other than walking in the street ”
Or trying to find a reason — not a justification — that makes more sense that a cop going, “I’m bored. Let’s shoot that kid there.”
Suzanne McFly August 15th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Gotta love how the chief blames the release of the video on the media by claiming “the media kept asking for the tape” and yet no one even knew it existed. All the unity that was created yesterday is now wiped away and the trust is again destroyed because this police department has an agenda to place blame on the victim.
edmeyer_able August 15th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
“The officer that was involved in the shooting of Michael Brown was Darren Wilson,” Jackson said. “He’s been a police officer for six years, has had no disciplinary action taken against him.”
—————————————————————————————————————
And won’t likely after this incident either.
edmeyer_able August 15th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
http://www.upworthy.com/if-you-ever-thought-the-us-was-a-land-of-equality-take-a-look-at-these-two-screenshots?c=utw1&utm_content=buffer1d74a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Foundryman August 15th, 2014 at 4:59 pm
This police chief is a complete loon. The Governor needs to close down the FPD and turn over the entire operation to the state police until a new department is in place.
fancypants August 15th, 2014 at 10:25 pm
the story has changed 2 x since early this morning….
1st they said this dude stold cigars then the cops caught up with him.
then they said mr. brown was walking down the middle of the street ( with no cigars ) then cops caught up with him ?
Make up your minds Ferguson If your going to add a 3rd story to this You might as well shoot Darren Wilson too.
CanterburyTom August 15th, 2014 at 10:31 pm
If you haven’t heard yet, here’s another version: http://danaloeschradio.com/alleged-friend-of-officer-darren-wilson-offers-his-side/
fancypants August 15th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
wow this better not be the truth or some people are going to get unglued
CanterburyTom August 15th, 2014 at 11:50 pm
Who really knows? But frankly, it’s every bit as credible as the yahoos claiming to be eyewitnesses. However, I’ll reserve my opinion until all the evidence comes in.
fancypants August 16th, 2014 at 11:35 pm
I can tell some big news is on the way or they would have this officers name cleared by now. Dozens of FBI agents plus a midnight to 5am curfew tells me someone is about to break some very bad news
CanterburyTom August 17th, 2014 at 7:06 am
i think the feds are there fishin’. They’re looking for Holder’s big “Civil Rights” case. I’ll wait for their findings.
fancypants August 19th, 2014 at 2:15 am
the feds and now the national guard are waiting on toxicology and xrays reports. wait until all of this is put together with the autopsy. The big announcement / bad news will soon follow.
BanditBasheert August 16th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
DANA LOESCH??? Are you kidding?