Governor John Bel Edwards is urging the public to let the Justice Department take the time it needs to conduct a thorough investigation into the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling. He says the agency will be professional and transparent during the process and wants everyone to be patient because the investigation may take a while…
Tensions grew at a peaceful protest in Baton Rouge last night in front of the Baton Rouge Police Headquarters. The unplanned protest calling for justice for Sterling began around 3pm and continued until police told protesters to disperse at 10pm. BRPD with the help of Louisiana State Police and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office closed Airline Highway to traffic for about 30 minutes while trying to prevent people from protesting in the street. Police say a few people were arrested for going into the street despite being told not to.
Law enforcement around the state are gearing up for a potential threat in Louisiana following the Dallas attack that left five police officers dead and seven injured. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says there is concern that something similar could happen in Louisiana because a suspect in the Dallas shooting told police he was upset about the police violence in Baton Rouge and Minnesota.
Edmonson says police have been investigating riot threats that have been made on social media and asks the public to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
The FBI has issued a warning to law enforcement agencies in Baton Rouge and Shreveport to be on the lookout for peaceful protests in the next few days. In the so-called Potential Activity Alert, the FBI noted social media posts calling for protests in response to Alton Sterling’s death. Col. Edmonson called the report a “general alert” and Governor Edwards reiterated during a press conference that there have been no credible threats made against law enforcement.