The Big Boss Sounds Off: The Michael Brown Case

I’ve been watching this unfold for the greater part of two weeks and some change now and am completely disappointed in the events taking place right now in Furgeson, MO. In no way shape or form am I surprised, but I am, however, disappointed. There was looting and rioting, and there has been a gross abuse of power by law enforcement. All the while there were those who Non-Violently expressed their outrage with protests in the streets, and they were terrorized by a government entity whose responsibilities are to “protect and serve”. All the conflicting accounts and distracting information that is being used to cast a shadow over the fact that there was a loss of life in this situation, an entire future ended. A potential for greatness that will never come to fruition.

The Accounts

The accounts vary in this scenario, but there have been far more witnesses confirming the account of Dorian Johnson, 22, the friend of Michael Brown that was walking home with him on that fateful day. For the sake of argument, I look at both sides.

Dorian Johnson and Eyewitness Accounts

So, August 9th, according to the account of Johnson, the two young men in Furgeson, MO en route to their home; walking on the street that leads to their residences. There were no cars coming down the street, and they were not impeding traffic. The police officer, Darren Wilson, 28, pulls up to the side of them and told the young men to either “Get the F*** on the sidewalk” or “Get the F*** out of the street.” to which they replied that they were not but a few minutes away from their destinations and would be out of the street. Wilson, then drove away, but then stopped and backed up nearly hitting Johnson and Brown, saying something along the lines of “What’d you say?!” (According to Johnson).

Dorian Johnson, then describes the officer grabbing Michael Brown through the window. The officer grabbed Brown around the neck, trying to pull him into the car. The officer and Brown struggled, while Brown was trying to pull away from Officer Wilson. Johnson then says that the officer drew his weapon and said “I’ll shoot you” or “I’m going to shoot” when the shot inside the squad car was fired.

Another witness says that Brown and Wilson were “tussling through the window” and Brown had his hands on the car in order to pry himself away from the officer.

Johnson’s account goes on to say that he and Brown ran from Officer Wilson down the street, when Wilson fired another shot at Brown. Feeling the hit of that bullet, Brown then turned around, with his hands in the air to say that he was unarmed. Wilson continue to shoot Brown as he hit the ground and died.

Another witness, Michael Brady, said that Wilson shot at Brown when he was running and had already been 20 feet away. Audio evidence now suggests that there were 6 shots fired at Brown when the officer exited the car, a pause, then 5 more shots fired. A total of 11 shots fired once he exited the car. Along with the shot fired, this would be 12 bullets fired total, most standard issue police pistols carry 15 rounds.

Police Statement and Wilson’s Friends

According to the local police investigations, Wilson’s account is different in the fact that what we hear in regards to the case is not from eye witness accounts. How we are informed of this information is through a friend of Wilson’s, named only as “Josie”. Josie’s account paints a picture that shows Wilson as not being aggressive in nature when he first stops Brown and Johnson. Wilson told the two young men to get out of the street.

Josie then goes on to say the Wilson may have heard a call about a strong arm robbery and saw the young men carrying what might have been stolen cigars. So Wilson then drives back over Brown and Johnson. When he tries to exit his car, however, Brown pushes him back into the car and then punches Wilson in the face. It was then that Wilson reaches for his gun. Brown then goes for the gun, at which point officer Wilson then pushes it away and then it goes off.

After the shot goes off, Josie then tells that Brown and Johnson started to run away from the officer. At this point, Wilson then gets out of his car to pursue them both. Josie then says, the officer then told to two young men to freeze, and the pair then turned around. The account then goes on to say that Brown began to taunt him, saying Wilson wouldn’t shoot and then rushed Officer Wilson. At this point, Wilson begins to fire. According to the second-hand account, Wilson thought that Brown was “on something”.

The Autopsies

What does the autopsy say? Brown was shot 6 times. The last two shots where shots to the head and they traveled down into the head, which means that Brown’s head was tilted down when the last shot was taken. Also, the shot to his arm was from front to back. This means that, as far as the head shots are concerned, Brown could have been mid-drop when the shots were taken (meaning he was already dying when he fell and Wilson continued to shoot) or Brown’s head could have been tilted if he charged after Wilson.

The Problem

Let’s look at the accounts, most are told by eyewitnesses who say that the officer appeared to be applying excessive force in this matter. The only accounts that we receive referencing the officer’s viewpoint are all second-hand recitations of what they heard him say. Nothing to the effect of a statement released by Wilson. For all we know, this could be another officers account and Wilson was the second to arrive on the scene (just a thought, there’s no basis for this conclusion other than the name of an officer released by the Hacker group, Anonymous).

With all the millions being spent to supply these officers with surplus military grade weapons, you’d think they’d 1) have the necessary funds to make sure that the surveillance equipment that they needed to have installed TO KEEP THEM HONEST would have been taken care of, and 2) at least provide them with the necessary NONLETHAL weapons that officers use in other cities (i.e. Tasers, nightsticks, and, you know, self-defense courses) to apprehend suspects. I’m sorry if I’m the only one who seems to think that an officer should be well trained to take down a suspect without the use of a fire arm when it fits. It always seems as if law enforcement is quick to resort to lethal means of apprehending when the suspects involved have high levels of melanin in their system (just saying).

Do I think it’s wrong for them to have military grade weapons? Honestly, no. Under certain circumstances, I think that law enforcement should have the tools that they need to protect citizens at home. However, I also believe that I shouldn’t be utterly terrified of the police when I see them on the street. I had a conversation last week and stated that I see most of law enforcement as nothing but a glorified gang. You get your colors and tattoos (badges) and grab your gun and head to the streets. When I walk the streets at night I shouldn’t feel safer being out alone as oppose to walking at night and seeing a squad car. I should be relieved at the sight of a police car, not horrified.

Taking a look at the autopsy and the eyewitness accounts along with the audio and video recordings, Michael Brown was hit 6 times. Take it a step further, not only was he hit 6 times, but the officer fired 11 shots! This means that 5 bullets when flying off to who knows where. Where’s the sense of responsibility here? The amount of reckless abandon here can’t be ignored. Even if Michael Brown was a threat, is it really worth risking 5 possible innocent victims to take him down?

Regardless of what the story was the truth is this: Michael Brown was UNARMED. To apprehend someone (if that was what the case was) with this amount of force was completely unnecessary. There is an accountability problem that law enforcement always tries to ignore when it comes to people of color. There should be training, surveillance, and an effort made to truly protect & serve, not terrorize & oppress.

The Reaction

That being said, the reaction by the citizens of Ferguson, MO is definitely understood. This is a grievous injustice that needs to be addressed not only in Ferguson, but in all of America. Why, is it that black families have to have this talk with their children? Why, is it a normal part of life now as an African American that it’s necessary to develop a mistrust of law enforcement? Why, is it that now strangers also include the police force?

The protesting by the citizens of Ferguson is a necessary reaction to this situation. It should not go quietly into the night that yet another young black man is gunned down when another way could have been chosen. However, that does not give the right to completely lose your mind in revolt. The burning of the QuikTrip was something that was completely unnecessary. I understand the frustration, but it doesn’t excuse criminal behavior that doesn’t prove a point. Looting doesn’t prove a point. These things feed the stereotypes that so plague the black community. It is incumbent upon us to behave in a way that is beyond reproach in these matters. Primarily, because it then shines a light on the true aggressors. Because of the actions taken through looting and vandalism, law enforcement now feels justified to do the things they do without reproach.

This is unacceptable. An officer shouldn’t be able to call citizens “F****** Animals” and it be allowed to pass. I’m sick of there being excuses to write the minority off as less than human and treat them as such. The question I have is this: is all this really necessary to “apprehend” an alleged suspect? In these situations, nothing is done differently. Can one really be surprised that an alleged robbery video depicting Brown as the assailant was released at the same time as the name of the officer that shot Brown? The tactics are the same. It happened to Trayvon Martin; it happened to Sean Bell; it happened to Oscar Grant; and it’s happening to Michael Brown.

After all the protesting, after all the violence, and after all the injustice, parents still had to bury yet another young black son. After all this, another potential success story was ended. A whole line of potential contributions to our society wiped out. Brown’s funeral put a lot of things in perspective for a few folks today. In the congestion of voices that have been heard throughout this case, the only one that matters was silenced, and he’ll never be able to speak his peace.