Friend who witnessed Michael Brown's death appears in court

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JIM SUHR

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The friend who was with Michael Brown last summer when 18-year-old Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer made his first court appearance Monday on a misdemeanor charge linked to an unrelated incident involving police last month.

Dorian Johnson, 23, declined to comment to The Associated Press after the brief hearing ultimately postponed until July 13 after neither of his attorneys showed up. Neither attorney responded to messages seeking comment.

Prosecutors on May 7 charged Johnson with resisting arrest or interfering with a lawful stop or detention, alleging that he tried to hinder the previous day's arrest of his younger brother, 21-year-old Demonte Johnson, "by using or threatening the use of violence, physical force or physical interference."

Johnson and Brown were walking in a Ferguson street last August when white police officer Darren Wilson confronted them. Wilson shot and killed Brown, who was black and unarmed, following a scuffle.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9b98e1d9c2ac4301bb5d101c6779c9d4/friend-who-witnessed-michael-browns-death-due-court

[randys1]

1. I admit I am amazed the cops havent beaten him to death yet.

I think the only reason is they know the eyes of the country are temporarily on them.

BTW

Brown was shot dead, execution style, from at least 20 feet away with at least one bullet already in him, for the crime of jaywalking and talking back to a cop.

[marym625]

2. They are out to get him

And I suspect his brother being arrested is part of it.

[undiegrinder]

4. From the linked article:

"Dorian Johnson's arrest last month came exactly a week after he sued Ferguson, Wilson and the city's former police chief."

What an outrage! It took the police a FULL WEEK to bring Johnson to "justice"??

[marym625]

9. They were busy trying to figure out how to disable their bodycams.

[bravenak]

6. Yep

[bluestateguy]

3. This is a revenge prosecution

Jury nullification is a very good thing.

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. As if he hasn't had enough trauma already.

Re-traumatization by cop.

[Weefee]

7. I think he has quite a few issues...

[Dont call me Shirley]

8. Sad, I'd say. I hope he can get good help. He deserves that.

[Judi Lynn]

10. No wonder he was so hyper when he was originally interviewed by tv news, right after the murder.

He's the one who witnessed the whole thing up close and personal. He probably knew the moment Michael Brown was shot that he was going to be next on their list.

Surely hope somehow he can find protection from the "public servants" who want him dead so he can't tell what he knows.