ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis County Prosecutor and Democratic nominee for Missouri first congressional district Wesley Bell spoke on KMOX about the Ferguson protest that led to a police officer's brain injury and four arrests.
Travis Brown was critically injured outside the city's police station during protests on the 10th anniversary of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown on Friday.
Two other officers also were hurt, one sustaining an ankle injury and another an abrasion. Both were treated at the scene.
The team of officers went out to make arrests Friday for destruction of property at the police station, where protesters gathered to remember Michael Brown.
Most of the protest was peaceful until protestors broke a section of fencing, Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle sent out the arrest team, which included Travis Brown.
Elijah Gantt allegedly charged at Travis Brown knocked him backward with his shoulder, and the officer hit his head as he tumbled to the ground, according to Doyle
Court records said Gantt then allegedly kept running and allegedly kicked two officers who tried to arrest him, leaving them with scratches and bruises.
Bell is currently prosecuting Gantt, who allegedly assaulted Officer Travis Brown, causing the injury.
"I do understand that folks have their freedom of speech and we respect people's first Amendment rights," said Bell on "The Chris and Amy Show" on KMOX Monday. "But it can't cross over the line where people are being harmed and property being damaged."
During the interview on "The Chris and Amy Show", Bell stressed that the evidence is clear that the 2015 case against Officer Darren Wilson cannot be reopened for prosecution.
"We looked at the case afterwards," said Bell, who in 2020 chose to look at the case again six years later and ultimately decided to not charge Wilson. "Without any new evidence, the evidence is clear that you cannot prosecute that case."
He added that focusing solely on that case misses the bigger picture, which is achieving broader criminal justice reform—a goal he says area departments have embraced.
"The North County Policing Cooperative was created with an emphasis on community policing and getting out as the police," said Bell. "We have seen those improvements. We've seen changes in government that have responded to what a lot of folks are looking for in Ferguson.
"Yeah there is more work to be done, but we've seen that. At some that there has to be a discussion about what are we doing here and now Officer Brown is now fighting for his life and for what?"
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