"A witness who was nearby when Justine Damond was fatally shot by a Minneapolis police officer has been located and is cooperating, according to state investigators.
The witness, who was seen bicycling east on W. 51st Street immediately before the shooting and who stopped and watched officers perform CPR “has been cooperative and provided an interview today,” according to a news release from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
A source with direct knowledge of the investigation said the witness filmed part of the encounter."
The article did not say, but I’m wondering if this witness is a kid. It sounds like there may be some video on a cell phone.
I have heard that police officers now have a choice as to whether or not to cooperate with internal affairs. If true, this seems like bad policy. If an officer is sent out into the public with a loaded gun, then require them to talk as a condition of employment or keep them at a desk job. Make it the officers choice on the front end.
I personally think whatever the outcome of the investigation, that both cops should be disciplined, the shooter IMO fired. Even if they find the shooting justified (which I am sure the PD and the PBA will desperately try and find a way to blame the victim), I think the shooter should be fired. Why? Supposedly police procedure is that if you are in a situation you think is going south, or after it does, you are supposed to turn on your body and cops car video camera, and neither cop did that. If the cop is going to complain he felt like he was in a dangerous situation and felt he was in danger of his and his partner’s lives, then there is absolutely no reason they didn’t turn on the cameras, none, and they were directly violating police procedure in doing so. I think the driver should face discipline of some sort, but the shooter should be fired, since he was the one who claimed he was in danger of his life yet didn’t follow procedure.
Justine Damond’s house was searched, very early in the morning just after she was shot and killed by police. What were they looking for?
This reminds me very much of the suspected CYA blood draw that was attempted on the truck driver who was the victim in an accident, the one that was prevented by a nurse that the police officer then cuffed and dragged out of the hospital.