More protests are expected in Baton Rouge as demonstrators cry out for justice in the death of Alton Sterling, and law enforcement look to keep the peace. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says his office has recused itself from the Alton Sterling investigation. Jeff Palermo reports…:
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More protests are expected today in Baton Rouge as people from Louisiana and other states call for justice in the police shooting of Alton Sterling. State Police Major Doug Cain says police will be there to help protestors exercise their first amendment right, so long as it’s lawful and peaceful.
Fifty people were arrested in yesterday’s protest for marching in the street, bringing the total number of protestors arrested this weekend to around 200. Many of individuals arrested yesterday were from out of state and charged with obstruction of a highway. Cain says police will do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe.
The federal investigation into Sterling’s death is still not complete, and Cain says police don’t know how long the protests will continue. But he says law enforcement will be there to protect citizens and their rights for as long as it takes.
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A 15 month old child that went missing overnight in Rapides Parish was located hours later in a briar patch across the street from the Tioga home. Lt. Tommy Carnline with the sheriff’s office says they were called to the residence around 7:30 this morning, and the search lasted less than an hour…:
Carnline says the parents last saw the child around 3am asleep, and it’s unknown at this time how the 15 month old got out of the house. He says they are just grateful they were able to find the child so quickly…:
Carnline says the condition of the child is unknown at this time. He says the toddler was responsive when located…:
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Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore has announced that he will recuse himself and his office from the investigation into the police shooting of Alton Sterling. Moore says he has no direct relationship with either officer involved, but he is close with the parents of Officer Blane Salamoni.
According to a report released by Moore’s office, Salamoni’s mother was the Violent Crime and Crime Scene Commander during most of Moore’s time in office, and Salamoni’s father has commanded the department’s special operations unit during the same time period. Protestors have been calling for justice since Sterling’s death, and Moore says that’s what he is trying to give them.
Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a statement saying the US Attorney’s Office has told the Louisiana Department of Justice that the state will not have access to the investigation until the federal case is complete. Moore says it’s best to just let the feds do their work first.
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Landry’s office will appoint a prosecutor for any state charges that may be filed after the federal investigation has been conducted.
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The ACLU of Louisiana says the Baton Rouge Police Department used illegal and excessive force on protesters this weekend. People have for days been in Baton Rouge marching over what they believe was the wrongful cop killing of Alton Sterling. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says the use of violent, militarized tactics during a peaceful gathering was not necessary…:
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Most of the arrests made were of people from out of town, and the charges stem from obstructing roadways. Esman says treating a peaceful public as though they are going to start a riot does not help improve relations that are already strained…:
EBR DA Hillar Moore says they are going to investigate every case closely..:
There are those who claim many of the protesters arrested Sunday were on private property, but BRPD says those cases were of people who had already broken the law by trying to block the interstate. Moore says, while the cases are still under investigation, once a law has been broken it’s been broken.: