ST. LOUIS • As nightly protests flare in Ferguson, city Police Chief Sam Dotson on Wednesday released 911 audio, surveillance and cellph...
ST. LOUIS • As nightly protests flare in Ferguson, city Police Chief Sam Dotson on Wednesday released 911 audio, surveillance and cellphone video of a fatal police shooting in St. Louis a day earlier.Kajieme Powell, 25, who lived with his grandmother in the 1500 block of Hornsby Avenue in St. Louis, tried to attack two officers with a steak knife about 12:20 p.m. near the Six Stars Market, 8701 Riverview Boulevard, police said. Powell approached an officer with a knife, shouting at police, "Shoot me, kill me now."The two officers each fired six shots, killing Powell, police said. It was unclear how many bullets hit him. One officer is 25 and has served the department for a little more than three years. The other officer is 31 and has about 2-and-a-half years on the force. Police did not identify them Wednesday.The audio and video appears to support witness accounts of the shooting to police. Dotson acknowledged he was taking an unusual step in releasing the audio and video in police shootings but he said he had promised transparency in light of events in Ferguson."I don't think any of us can deny that the tension, not only in St. Louis but around the country and the world because of the activity in Ferguson over the last 10 or 12 days, certainly has led to us making sure that we got this right," Dotson said.A crowd of up to about 150 protesters gathered outside the market Tuesday night, with people sometimes shouting chants similar those heard in the Ferguson protests. There were no arrests or reports of injuries.The national spotlight is on Dotson's handling of Tuesday's shooting, which comes within two weeks of the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old shot and killed by Ferguson Patrolman Darren Wilson. The Aug. 9 shooting has sparked nightly street violence in Ferguson and protests around the country.Together, the video and audio released Wednesday on Tuesday's police shooting provide a clearer account of Powell's encounter with police and what led to the shooting. Surveillance video from the Six Stars Market, 8701 Riverview Boulevard, shows Powell entering the store about noon Tuesday, first stealing energy drinks, leaving and then returning to take pastries without paying. Powell was then seen pacing in the street and throwing things from the store.Also released was cellphone video shot by a bystander on the street. The market is about two miles from the scene of ongoing protests in Ferguson. St. Louis Alderman Dionne Flowers, who owns a beauty shop nearby, is heard on 911 audio reporting the man acting strangely and may have had a second knife in his pocket. Police recovered only one knife at the scene.Dotson said officers appeared justified in shooting Powell had the knife, was within 2 to 3 feet of the officers and disobeying their orders.Asked whether the officers could have used Tasers, Dotson said Tasers are not always accurate, and Powell was wearing a jacket that could have deflected the Taser prongs. He said police may use deadly force if an attacker with a knife is within 21 feet.It was unclear if Powell was mentally ill. Dotson said he, Mayor Francis Slay and another police commander met with Powell's grandmother to explain the incident and investigation.Also Wesdnesday, Dotson said the release of the audio and video is part of a new department practice in sharing information on police shootings with the public. Dotson said a new team, called the Force Investigative Unit will solely investigate fatal police shootings. The team have four detectives and will be led by Sgt. Roger Engelhardt."The information will be available," Dotson said. "And as much that can be released by the Sunshine Law, I will try to do it as quickly as I can."Joe Steiger, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association that represents city officers, said the union does not oppose the release of the audio and video but said it would be "irresponsible" for the department to release the officers' names with tensions running high over the Ferguson shooting and protests. He said officers' names should only be released after potential retaliatory threats to officers have faded. Video released as public record by St Louis police Less
