From [HERE] The mother of the Black man who was shot in the backseat of a police squad car met with a representative from the United States Justice Department Tuesday night.
Teresa Carter had the meeting just after seeing a video created by Jonesboro police to explain the death of her son, Chavis Carter. “Look where the handcuffs are”‘, said Carter. ” I’m still not buying that.”
The re-enactment tape shows several officers, about the same size as Carter, in a squad car with cuffs on, who are able to pull out a hidden gun and put it to their head. Carter had been picked up by police July 28. The actual dashcam video from the police cruiser has not been released by police. Police have claimed that the dashcam video exonerates the police - but have refused to release it so far.
The New York Daily News quoted Jonesboro Police Chief Michael Yates as saying a dashboard-camera video and accounts from unnamed witnesses “tend to support” Baggett and Marsh’s account. Yates has said both witnesses and the dashboard camera put the officers outside the vehicle at the time the gun was fired.
A warrant was issued when Chavis did not show up for a court date after being caught with marijuana. Officers searched him, handcuffed him behind his back, and put him in a squad car. The two officers were placed on paid administrative leave, pending results of the probe.
The FBI is monitoring the police investigation and will perform ballistics tests on the .380-caliber, cobra semi-automatic handgun found near his body. The gun had been reported stolen in Jonesboro, a month before.
Mrs. Carter doesn’t believe the tape. Her opinion was matched by many others in Jonesboro who felt the video raised more questions than answers in a community where many are angry with the police.
“Handcuffs are generally so tight”‘, added another resident. He didn’t see how they could move up as much as they did in the police recreation video.
Members of the Jonesboro community met at a church, behind closed doors, to express their concerns of racism and unanswered questions in Carter’s death and others.
A member of the Justice Department told those gathered that she was there to listen on behalf of the government.