A STATE OF EMERGENCY Has Been Declared Ahead Of Bodycam Footage Release

The Mayor of Elizabeth City, North Carolina declared a state of emergency before its police department released body camera footage of a fatal shooting involving a deputy and a 42-year-old black man that happened last week and sparked protests in the city over the weekend. For many, this is an admission of guilt by Bettie Parker who is the Mayor.

In the declaration, Parker said, “In order to ensure the safety of our citizens and their property, City officials realize there may potentially be a period of civil unrest within the City following the public release of that [body camera] footage.”

Parker directed “all departments and agencies of Elizabeth City to take whatever steps necessary to protect life and property, public infrastructure, and provide such emergency assistance deemed necessary to preserve public safety.”

No arrests were made during the protests over the weekend or any damages to any property

Andrew Brown, Jr., was reportedly killed following an incident with law enforcement authorities on Wednesday. Brown is a 42-year-old black man. In a statement released by the Pasquotank County Sheriff, it stated that

The WUNC North Carolina Public Radio reported in a release:

Recordings of scanner traffic compiled by broadcastify.com from the morning of the shooting include emergency personnel indicating that Brown was shot in the back. An eyewitness has said that deputies fired shots at Brown as he tried to drive away, and car authorities removed from the scene appeared to have multiple bullet holes and its back windshield shattered.

“Only a judge can release the video. That’s why I’ve asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to confirm for me that the releasing of the video will not undermine their investigation. Once I get that confirmation, our county will file a motion in court, hopefully, Monday, to have the footage released,” Wooten said over the weekend amid the growing calls for the body camera footage to be released.

As reported by The Associated Press on Monday, new information has been revealed about the search warrant that is said to be the purpose for the deputies arriving at Brown’s house. The warrant “said that an investigator in nearby Dare County was told by the informant that the person had been purchasing crack cocaine and other drugs” for over a year from Brown. The warrant said that in March, local narcotics officers used the informant to conduct controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine on two separate occasions. The warrant says both buys were recorded. Previously disclosed arrest warrants from Dare County included charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and methamphetamine against Brown.”