“It is just a very brief fragment… and there is no audio”.
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Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, who police union officials accused of not publicly backing officers, said on Saturday that the force would continue to do its best to “to protect neighbors and protesters from violent elements who are out only to do harm”.
The shooting sparked protests after a few witnesses said the man was handcuffed and not resisting when he was shot. Police have disputed that claim. Clark was shot by a police officer in what authorities say was a scuffle.
Protesters say videos like the one Dayton watched will prove Clark was cuffed.
Dayton said he watched the tape on Friday before he met with members of Clark’s family, and told them the same.
“I gave them my oath and my word of honor, there’s nothing in there that can provide any confirmation of this view that we had officers who acted as a few allege they did”, the governor said.
Dayton said there was nothing more of substance in the video until, it would appear, after the shot was sacked, when one officer comes back into view.
Dayton would not describe specifics about what he saw in the video, shot from a camera inside an ambulance.
The footage was taken from a mobile police camera, an ambulance camera, public housing cameras and a few cell phones.
He said that he encouraged Clark’s family to meet with federal investigators to discuss release of the video. In the face of these protests, police eventually revealed the names of the two officers under investigation in the incident, but declined to announce the race of the officers. Police said a chemical spray was also directed at officers, as well as Molotov cocktails, bottles, rocks and bricks. He defended his decision to view it because as governor, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is one of the agencies investigating the shooting, answers to him. It’s my responsibility to know the situation that I’m dealing with.
Dayton has said he has urged that tapes be provided to Clark’s family and released publicly when they would not jeopardize a USA investigation.
Nekima Levy-Pounds said in a statement posted on Facebook that the public should see the video, rather than rely on the perspective of one government official who is not a trained expert.
“The Governor’s statement also disturbingly calls into question the veracity of statements from witnesses who have already cooperated with state and federal authorities in presenting their versions of what happened, and may deter other witnesses from coming forward out of fear of not having their stories be believed.”
An encampment of protesters outside a Minneapolis police station vowed Saturday to maintain their vigil ov…
Tuesday morning, they are planning a march in Minneapolis.
Protesters have constantly occupied the 4th Precinct since soon after the shooting. Tensions cooled during the weekend, following a few intense confrontations last week.
Clark’s family has requested there be no protests on Wednesday, because they don’t want his funeral to be politicized.
McKnight says a funeral for her cousin Jamar Clark has been scheduled for Wednesday at Shiloh Temple global in Minneapolis.
Dayton said he did not know if he would attend the funeral.
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This report includes information from the Associated Press and Forum News Service.
