In their lawsuit, they say the Baton Rouge Police Department violated First Amendment rights of demonstrators, who took to the streets protesting the July 5 police killing of Alton Sterling.
Advertisement
17-year-old Antonio Thomas, 23-year-old Trashone Coats, 20-year-old Malik Bridgewater and a 13-year-old male have been arrested in connection to the burglary.
Six guns have been recovered, and two others remain at large. “Well, this is the reason, because we had credible threats against the lives of law enforcement in this city”.
Col. Mike Edmonson, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, said at a news conference that the plot, had it been carried out, would have caused “substantial harm to police in the Baton Rouge area”.
Sterling, a 37-year old resident of Louisiana, was shot and killed by Baton Rouge police officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake.
For the 2009 fight with officers while having a gun, Baton Rouge Police charged Sterling with possession of marijuana, sound reproduction prohibited (for the CDs), illegal possession of a firearm with drugs, resisting an officer and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
A protester yells at police officers in riot gear after being forced off the motor way in front of the the Baton Rouge Police Department Headquarters in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 9, 2016.
Another protest was proceeding in Dallas when a man there opened fire on police, killing five officers and prompting calls for unity among politicians including President Barack Obama.
The teenage son of Louisiana shooting victim Alton Sterling has spoken out for the first time since his father was killed by police, appealing for peace. “Protesting in peace, not in violence”, he urged.
“[The police response] made me afraid to protest”, Crystal Williams, an organizer with North Baton Rouge Matters, said in a statement released by the ACLU.
According to a Baton Rouge police report, the May 29, 2009 incident began when police received a report of a suspect “pulling out a gun” on someone.
The Baton Rouge police and the state police did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit. It’s where Alton Sterling was shot and killed by police officers just over a week ago.
He then “attempted to reach for the gun from his pocket, the officers fired their police-issued duty weapon at the subject to stop the threat”, it said. “Not beating the police, not the police beating the people”.
“Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible”, the UAE embassy said in a statement that urged people to stay away from any U.S. demonstrations.
Advertisement
The plaintiffs are asking for an immediate temporary restraining order against the state police, Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies and the district attorney, with the intent of restricting how protestors can be apprehended during future rallies.
