Report: Ferguson Police Chief Lied About Michael Brown Surveillance Tape
When Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson distributed copies of the Michael Brown surveillance tape at a press conference on Aug. 15th, at the same time he released the name of the officer who was responsible for shooting Brown, most of us were suspicious.
When reporters asked about his release of the tape, Jackson told them that he was legally obligated to release the footage because members of the media had submitted an open records requests for it.
[su_center_ad]As it happens, that’s a lie.
According to documents obtained by TheBlot, Jackson misled the public and journalists when he claimed that he was forced to release surveillance footage that purported to show 18-year-old Michael Brown engaged in a strong-arm robbery at a convenience store hours before he was fatally shot by a police officer.
Another angle to that video surfaced recently which paints a different picture.
Jackson told reporters that he was legally obligated to release the tape because members of the media had submitted an open records requests for it, The Blot reports.
“We’ve had this tape for a while, and we had to diligently review the information that was in the tape, determine if there was any other reason to keep it,” Jackson told reporters. “We got a lot of Freedom of Information requests for this tape, and at some point it was just determined we had to release it. We didn’t have good cause, any other reason not to release it under FOI.”
When asked by a reporter why the agency would release the surveillance tape, even though it appeared to have nothing to do with the fatal shooting of the teenager, Jackson replied: “Because you asked for it.”
The Blot reports:
However, a review of open records requests sent to the Ferguson Police Department found that no news organization, reporter or individual specifically sought the release of the surveillance tape before police distributed it on Aug. 15.
Last month, TheBlot Magazine requested a copy of all open records requests made by members of the public — including journalists and news organizations — that specifically sought the release of the convenience store surveillance video. The logs, which were itself obtained under Missouri’s open records law, show only one journalist — Joel Currier with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch — broadly requested any and all multimedia evidence “leading up to” Brown’s death on Aug. 9.Other records that would have been subject to Currier’s request, including 9-1-1 call recordings and police dispatch tapes, have yet to be formally released by the agency.
The logs contradict Jackson’s claim that “a lot” of reporters had specifically “asked for” the robbery surveillance tape through open records requests before his agency released the footage. The documents raise more questions about why the video — which, by the chief’s own admission, was not related to the shooting death of a teenage — was released in the first place. “which, by the chief’s own admission, was not related to the shooting death of the teenager”
Darren Wilson has yet to file an incident report, which is required.
Jackson explaining that he ‘had to release’ the tape.
H/T: My buddy @TomCinmidlife with thanks.
Image: The Blot.
Ty Ellison September 5th, 2014 at 10:53 pm
I’m shocked… SHOCKED, I SAY… to find out that the Ferguson PD (with its COINTELPRO-meets-Keystone-Kops approach to investigations) lied about the reason why the drug store video was released.
M D Reese September 6th, 2014 at 12:23 am
What’s even funnier is that if you watch the whole video, you can see Mr. Brown paying for his merchandise.
R.J. Carter September 6th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Except that if you watch the whole video, you see no such thing.
Marcus Shelton September 5th, 2014 at 11:20 pm
Shocked that anyone is shocked. This guy is a disturbing mix of Roscoe P Coltrane and Sheriff Lobo
juicyfruityyy September 5th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
They need to shut down the FPD. Nothing but lies, cop brutality, corruption, and cover-ups has surface from the department.
tiredoftea September 6th, 2014 at 12:06 am
And all the other white boys took it from there!
Obewon September 6th, 2014 at 1:01 am
AG Holder’s 40 DOJ investigators know the Ferguson PD rots from the PD’s chief head on down to summary executioner Darren Wilson, who has yet to file a jaywalking incident report, which is required.
whatthe46 September 6th, 2014 at 6:21 am
you know how you hear, things happen for a reason? as much as i HATE to say this, (because its hurts like hell) (because most would not agree) maybe it was his (michael’s) fate in a sense, that FPD get exposed. (like martin’s) (and i’m not going all christian o.k.) no mother/father should ever have to read a manual to their son’s of color, how to survive in life when you come across a white cop or when you decide to drive at night wherever you choose in your homeland… it’s 5:20 a.m. insomnia and _______ the “v” word is kicking in all together. this makes me fuckin’ sick.
viva_democracy September 6th, 2014 at 11:06 am
If something positive does come out of this negative (Michael’s murder), I hope it does expose FPD to the world and a large broom is brought in to sweep out the trash running the corrupt local force their.
Linda1961 September 6th, 2014 at 7:49 am
Such a stupid lie, but this “police chief” clearly thought that he could get away with it, just to cover up for the coward and murderer, Wilson.
Suzanne McFly September 6th, 2014 at 10:47 am
This criminal mentality has been going on in Ferguson for generations, they have gotten away with it with no repercussions. They wouldn’t know the moral thing to do if it was jammed down their throats.
MIAtheistGal September 6th, 2014 at 7:58 am
Color me shocked.
Tammy Minton Haley September 6th, 2014 at 8:03 am
why can’t somebody, just for once, do the right thing? jesus h. christ, somebody connected with this police force, just…do the right thing…once, in the course of this investigation…please?
i double-dog dare ya’ll to do the right thing…hey, i know–i’ll do the right thing, next time i murder a kid in the street, if ya’ll will do the right thing, now…
whaddya say?
William September 6th, 2014 at 10:53 am
Good luck on your new career Chief.
Suzanne McFly September 6th, 2014 at 11:14 am
I hate to click like on this pic because that guy is adorable lol
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 3:21 pm
He will hold you at bay with his pen….you get a chance watch “Quick Change” with Murray
Suzanne McFly September 6th, 2014 at 3:35 pm
Looked up the movie, looks hilarious, love Bill Murray. I will keep it in mind next time I am looking up a movie to watch.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
It is a real NYC flick but sooooo true to the characters
RioBravoHombre September 6th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
WHY CAN’T YOU STIPUD LITBURDS STOP WHINING AND TRUST THE SYSTEM? WHEN HAS THE SYSTEM EVER BEEN WRONG?
Douglas Kerrigan September 6th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Because we enjoy calling out bigots and haters like you, even when they can’t put together a simple comment.
RioBravoHombre September 6th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Recalibrate your tricorder’s “sarcasm” readout.
King K September 6th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
RioBravoHombre: Refrain from making sarcastic comments on serious issues. People might mistaken your sarcastic comments to be your true beliefs. Just be straightforward NEXT TIME.
RioBravoHombre September 6th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Give orders to the wind. I don’t take them.
Red Mann September 6th, 2014 at 9:50 pm
It ws a good Poe, just needed !!!11!! at the end and the grammar was a little too good..
RioBravoHombre September 6th, 2014 at 10:17 pm
The tell was the misspelling of the words “stupid” and “libturds”…I thought that was enough. Apparently not for some.
Red Mann September 6th, 2014 at 10:31 pm
Of course, recognizing the poster helps.
RioBravoHombre September 6th, 2014 at 10:44 pm
My street cred means a lot to me! lol!
Kamen September 6th, 2014 at 8:09 pm
It would be so much easier to include at the end so there could not be any confusion.
RioBravoHombre September 6th, 2014 at 8:11 pm
My misspelling of “stupid” and “libturds” is all the tag I’m willing to provide, sorry.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Last time,….we trusted the system…we ended up in not one but two(2) wars to make money for the gopee at the expense of american lives
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CAPS
Herb Sarge Phelps September 6th, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Actually the whole situation pretty much reminds me of my hometown, state, and region from when I was a child and teen. If I heard these things without knowing it was in Missouri in 2014, I would have thought it was in Mississippi in the 1960s. My adoptive father would be so proud and I can hear him saying, “about time the put this n—— in their place.” Yep, a stroll down memory lane I could live without. I didn’t like it then and hate it even more today.
fancypants September 6th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
all this could have been written up as assault on a police officer ( if that ) instead it turned out like a tombstone cowboy sequel .
I cant believe all the mindless support for these keystone cops
Suzanne McFly September 6th, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Glad you were strong enough to break the cycle of stupidity.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 3:14 pm
He only released the name of his hero because it had been hacked and was public knowledge including his SSN and address…wonder how many credit cards he has now LOL
R.J. Carter September 6th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
When was it hacked and released? Because none of the three name/photo/d0x that Anonymous put out had anything credible. They weren’t even phonetically close.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Before he announced it. That was a motivating factor, by about 36 hours
R.J. Carter September 6th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Except that didn’t happen. Lots of other names were thrown out (along with Anonymous’ credibility) but Darren Wilson’s name never made even a Reddit posting prior to the chief’s announcement.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
NOYFB…I have my connections that you don’t…
R.J. Carter September 6th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
OMG a sooper-seekrit agent who knew things the rest of the world didn’t. Colour me impressed.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Your problem not mine…does it bother you???
R.J. Carter September 6th, 2014 at 5:20 pm
Nah, not bothered. As with most liars, I’m generally more amused than annoyed.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 5:23 pm
Yo Twit….you’ll NEVER know will you LOL
R.J. Carter September 6th, 2014 at 5:23 pm
But… But… But it’s “public knowledge.” You said it was.
rg9rts September 6th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Sort of looks like a midwest version of Bull Connor
Kamen September 6th, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Hahaha. Lie after Lie After Lie. White People will sink to the lowest to feel the Highest.