Officers have faced criticism for wearing full riot gear and detaining some leaders of the protests.
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Sterling’s death, and another fatal shooting of an African-American man by police in suburban Minneapolis the next day, set off a series of protests across the nation. “Well, this is the reason, because we had credible threats against the lives of law enforcement in this city”, Police Chief Carl Dabadie told reporters.
The son of police-shooting victim Alton Sterling is speaking out about the “good man” his father was and his hopes that protesters continue demonstrating peacefully.
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 protesters can be apprehended during future rallies.
“I want them to know that my intentions were never to kill no police officer”, Coats told WBRZ.
The group said charging these people for “nonviolent acts of civil disobedience … sends a chilling message to any individual who wants to engage in nonviolent protest in the future”. Muflahi says he was only released from the police vehicle after repeatedly telling police he needed to use the bathroom, and even then, the court documents say, he was not allowed into the store to use it but was forced to pee on the side of the building, in plain public view. “Protesting in peace, not in violence”, he urged.
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.
A witness captured 48 seconds of the killing outside Triple S. Food Mart in a graphic video that culminates in an officer aiming his duty gun inches from Sterling’s body as he and his partner pinned him to the ground.
A fourth man from the break-in is still considered to be at-large and is believed to have two of the stolen guns, police said. He said the suspect didn’t give any details about when or where a possible plot would be carried out.
People gather to protest the shooting of Alton Sterling on July 10, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“The police in Dallas, Texas, they didn’t deserve that”, said Cameron. Police arrested Bridgewater and two other suspects following a burglary last weekend at a pawn shop where eight handguns were stolen.
Col. Mike Edmonson has stood by the actions of law enforcement, saying a local pawn shop burglary was linked to a threat against officers. Bridgewater, located at his house, had in his possession “some of the firearms” stolen from the store, the report says.
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Dabadie also said that when Thomas was arrested, he “stated that he and three other suspects stole the firearms and were going to get bullets to shoot police”. Sterling was shot during the altercation and died at the scene, police said.
