Lawrence said it could be helpful for states to have laws on the release of police footage. Davis was fired because he hadnt activated his bodycam during the shooting but attorneys for Brittains family say Sheriff John Staley should have fired Davis for shooting Brittain, a white teenager whose death drew national headlines and attention from civil rights activists. Dont believe it. Skip Navigation Share on Facebook It is legal for officials to deny body camera footage because of an ongoing criminal investigation, Robert Steinbuch, professor of law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and co-author of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, said Thursday. Young people killing others in Little Rock is wrong. He suggested a law that would require law enforcement agencies to affirmatively post videos of events. Watch David Norths remarks commemorating 25 years of the World Socialist Web Site and donate today. According to King, Brittain slowed down, put his turn signal on, and pulled to the left side of the road. Under conditions of insurmountable wealth inequality, the Democratic and Republican parties have increased funding for law enforcement, armed departments with military-grade weapons, and provided training for police forces which claim the lives of more than 1,000 people every year. On June 30, the families of Marquis Martin and Hunter Brittain rallied at the state capital in Little Rock demanding justice be administered for both victims. With working class resistance growing, the Democrats and Biden are now diverting hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds into the hiring of more police. Mary Brittain started hunting in Oregon with her husband in 1955, something that would turn into a family tradition carried out for generations to come. Mike Davis near a body shop . He later died at North Little Rock Hospital. Favorites. "That is why we have a prosecutor. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. Parks near 1302 Brittain Rd include Hunter Park, Sweetwater Valley Park, and Clinton Nature Preserve. A Freedom of Information request for the footage was sent to Phillips on July 14. Phillips did not respond to a follow-up email sent Thursday by the Democrat-Gazette asking for additional details about why the footage has not been released along with possible timelines of when it could be. Former Lonoke County Deputy Sgt. Davis radioed dispatch that shots had been fired and requested assistance. Sharpton had cynically sought to use the police murder of a white teenager to marshal support for the Democrats token George Floyd Act police reform bill in the Senate, which recently collapsed in negotiations. As back-up arrived, the passenger, Jordan King, was detained by a second deputy. The family's legal team, which . "On the other end -- and this is more recent, after all these controversies and protests over use of force -- you see a more recent wave of states going the opposite direction and actually mandating faster disclosure.". King explained that the second police officer that arrived at the scene detained him: [The officer] told me get out with my hands up and pull my shirt up and stuff, and then [forced] me to the ground, put me in handcuffs and was dragging me around and stuff. Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in Floyd's death. He was white too, so you likely hadnt heard about that one either. "There is no national standard," said Alissa Marque Heydari, deputy director for the Institute of Innovation in Prosecution at the college. drink options include Sprinkles Donuts & Coffee Company, Starbucks, and McDonald's. Parks near 370 Cassidy Trl include Hunter Park, Sweetwater Valley Park, and Camp Inagehi. Family and friends of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain are demanding justice at the Lonoke Sheriffs Department. Of those deaths 47 were killed by self inflicted wounds and by other cops. He said each one of their lives (by name) mattered. Graham, who recused himself from the case July 8, denied the Freedom of Information request July 15. The 17-year-old was killed after a Lonoke County sheriff's Hunter Brittain should have been celebrating this Fourth of July weekend. Michael Davis after being pulled over while test-driving a vehicle about 3 a.m. on Arkansas 89 south of Cabot. "Transparency will be able to reveal the truth to the public who is outraged that this unarmed child was killed by somebody who was supposed to protect and defend them.". I've had him for the last five years of his life," Rebecca Payne, said. I sat in the back of the cop car for about three hours.. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected the US healthcare system. According to Crump, the families wanted to know if Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson supported Hunters Lawa proposed reform which would require law enforcement agencies in the state to provide police officers with body-mounted cameras while also requiring officers to activate their body-mounted cameras from the beginning of their shift to the end. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Favorites. The Judges overseeing this case are SMITH, KERRA A and [ II ] SMITH, KERRA A. It is simply unconscionable that this is the reality in the most powerful advanced nation in the world. On motion of Rep. BRITTAIN the invitation was accepted. Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley because he didnt turn on his body camera until after the shooting. His uncle, Jesse Brittain, said the family wouldnt stop advocating until there was justice for Hunter and he also invoked unjust killings by police around the country. "I do think it would be useful to have legislation that gives the public easier access to body camera footage," he said. Speakers include Ben Crump and Rev. This law enforcementrelated article is a stub. Brittains passenger said the pair had been working on the trucks transmission. Its only with changes well have some measure of peace.. Brittains family claimed the teenager was shot as he reached for an oil jug to prevent the truck from rolling backward. He said it might be controversial. His story. Arkansas law doesn't provide clarity specifically to the release of body camera footage as it pertains to fatal officer-involved incidents. Hunter Brittain was driving a truck that was stopped by the deputy, identified as Sgt Michael Davis, in Arkansas. Personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Devon M. Jacob filed the lawsuit and they issued this statement: Staley is sued both personally and in his individual capacity. . One protester spray-painted the words Justice for Hunter on the building. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and, if successful, the county is the likeliest source of money to satisfy a judgment. For Hunter Brittain's family, they feel this transparency has been denied after the teen was killed by a Lonoke County deputy and haven't seen body cam footage. The police cannot be reformed within the framework of capitalism. He is no longer with us in the physical sense, but his spirit is calling us to get out of our frozen place and unite, stand together, march together and fight together for true justice for all. The attorneys also represented the family of George Floyd, 46, who died in 2020 while in police custody in Minneapolis. Phillips mentioned during the interview, Davis was asked to clarify if he could see Brittains hands or see what was in Brittains hands prior to discharging his county-issued firearm. If he [the sheriffs deputy] felt like he was in danger, hes got a taser on his hip. Hunter Brittain funeral includes loud (and biracial) calls for justice and police Lonoke death joins national discussion on police tactics, To-Do List: The Reps Marie and Rosetta, Mary Gauthier, Argenta Plaza Summer Series, Raya and the Last Dragon on the riverfront. Hunter Brittains life mattered just as much as Andrew Browns. 9 groceries, 40 restaurants . [8], Davis was found guilty at trial in March 2022 of negligent homicide, but not guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year in jail plus a $1,000 fine. Did the officer hold a reasonable belief that his safety or the safety of others was at risk? [3], The body camera of the deputy was turned over to Arkansas State Police. Crump invoked other police slaying cases hed joined George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Christian Hall and Hunter Brittain. People then streamed past the coffin. This is what the family of God looks like, said the preacher. Mr King said Brittain's truck wouldn't go into park, so he got out to get an oil jug to put behind his vehicle's tyres, to stop it from hitting Sgt Davis' car. Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. International Committee of the Fourth International, Seventeen-year-old gunned down by police in Lonoke County, Arkansas. But we need your help to do even more. Hunter Brittain dreamed of a career in professional racing . According to King, Davis, without issuing any commands, immediately drew his weapon and fatally shot Brittain. A special prosecutor announced the felony charge against Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office, in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. Andrew Boryga Updated Sep. 17, 2021 3:30PM ET / Published Sep. 17, 2021 11:54AM ET Over 40 years in public service, he has held such notable positions as youth director of New York's Operation Breadbasket, director of ministers for the National Rainbow Push coalition and founder of his own broad-based progressive civil rights organization, the National Action Network. Justice for Hunter. The cry would be repeated. Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy in June, died of gunshot wounds in his neck and arm, according to a coroner's report released Wednesday. Name Change Of Hunter Dean Brittain. 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