Trump says police not getting fair treatment over Rayshard Brooks shooting incident

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• President Trump said police officers in the country are getting unfair treatment amidst subsequent incidents involving law enforcers.
• Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe is facing multiple charges over the shooting of Rayshard Brooks, less than a week after the Wendy’s incident.
• The Atlanta Mayor said the police officers’ confidence was down following the filing of cases against Rolfe.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump contemplated the killing of Rayshard Brooks, noting that any citizens should not resist any police officer’s arrest. The president also thinks the police have been widely receiving unfair treatment.

Trump’s made his remarks during an interview with Fox News just after the Atlanta police officer responsible for the shooting of Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, was charged with multiple cases, including a felony.

Brooks suffered gunshot wounds in the back after struggling with police officers, where he was able to snatch away a stun gun.

Prosecutors believed Brooks, a 27-year-old African-American, was not a threat when he was shot in the back while fleeing. Video footage showed the police officer kicked Brooks when he went down and did not consider giving him medical aid.

Trump also cited an explanation by Rolfe’s lawyer that the former police officer seemed to hear a gunshot and saw a flash before deciding to shoot Brooks.

The president further clarified that although he doesn’t have to believe the statement right away, it’s an angle that should be considered. He added that the case is now up to the courts, and he hopes that justice will be served despite commenting police haven’t been treated fairly in the U.S.

In a press briefing, District Attorney Paul Howard said Brooks was clutching the taser gun he got from the officers as he ran away and was already about 18 feet from Rolfe when he was shot.

Howard also announced the type of charges they filed against Rolfe, five days after the incident on the parking area of a Wendy’s restaurant, which shocked Atlanta.

After the charges were filed, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta said morale in the law enforcement department was down at almost ten-folds. There were escalating reports that police officers were taking sick leaves.

Bottoms said during an interview with CNN on Wednesday night that the city expects its police to maintain its vows in keeping the communities safe.

Brooke’s shooting incident ignited new protests in the capital of Georgia against police violence following irregularly violent demonstrations attributed to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis had mostly settled down.

Atlanta police chief, Erika Shields, stepped down from her post within 24 hours of Brook’s death.

Source: The Guardian