From re-opening a criminal investigation to resignation of government officials, supporters of Brandon Tate-Brown and his family vocalize demands.
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There are at least 91 reasons why the Federal Government should come to Philadelphia and investigate the fatal officer-involved shooting of Mr. Brandon Tate-Brown, and the government negligence that followed, suggested Reverend Mark Tyler, who pastors the historic Mother Bethel A.M.E church in Society Hill.
Reverend Mark Tyler, Pastor, Mother Bethel A.M.E. Photo Credit: C. Norris – ©2015
The 91 reasons Rev. Tyler is referring to are the 91 recommendations laid out by the Department of Justice’s COPS Office in a report entitled “An Assessment of Deadly Force in the Philadelphia Police Department.”
“They already leveled serious charges against the City,” he said, alluding to the idea that that should be enough to warrant their presence to investigate what’s believed to be the final, fatal-officer-involved shooting of 2014.
On December 15th, Mr. Brandon Tate-Brown was pulled over by two rookie Philadelphia police officers for a routine traffic stop – officers claimed Mr. Tate-Brown’s headlights were off – that led to a struggle and eventually an officer, Mr. Nicholas Carrelli, discharging his firearm once and striking Mr. Tate-Brown in the back of the head.
The official word from the Philadelphia Police Department was that Mr. Brown, 26, after struggling with police, reached into the passenger side of his vehicle to retrieve a gun.
That narrative has since been debunked by Philadelphia Police Commissioner, Mr. Charles Ramsey, who said in a rush to feed the media with information, a false narrative was given.
Demands by the Tate-Brown family and their supporters today at a press conference in front of City Hall ranged from putting Officer Carrelli – who’s back patrolling the streets – on desk duty pending another investigation – this one executed by the Feds – to the removal of Mr. Charles Ramsey as police commissioner.
“We want those two murdering pigs off the street today, exclaimed Mr. Asa Khalif, a cousin to the Tate-Brown family and one of the 10 Philadelphia activists, branded the #Philly10, who were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in March during a physical confrontation with police while demanding to know the name(s) of the officer(s) who killed Mr. Tate-Brown.
The #Philly10, who were all recently found not guilty, showed their support at today’s press conference, along with many other community leaders and activists, including Mr. Greg Brinkley and Mr. Edward Lloyd, the private investigators who were the first to accuse PPD of a cover up and who were responsible for digging up the 7-11 surveillance video that showed Mr. Tate-Brown, minutes before his death, entering his rental car with the headlights on.
“When you have more questions than answers you step up the investigation, not close it. Seth Williams should be impeached, prosecuted and reported to a disciplinarian board,” said Mr. Brinkley, who called the City’s action in this case “criminal.”
Mr. Lloyd, a City Committeeman who claims Mr. Tate-Brown and his mother as constituents, called for Ms. Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania’s State Attorney, to investigate Mr. Williams and for Commissioner Ramsey to “step down.”
Mr. Brian Mildenberg, attorney for Mrs. Tanya Brown-Dickerson, Mr. Tate-Brown’s mother, and the estate of Mr. Tate-Brown, said “This was a cover up from the minute he was shot because false stories were given to the first responders.”
Mr. Mildenberg cited inconsistencies in evidence presented by investigators – such as the staging of the body in relations to the bullet casing on the ground – that made him take this case.
“This case is the real thing,” he said, noting that he wished he could celebrate the victory of revealing the truth in the public square, but that it’s a “victory of tragedy,” one barely worth a smile.
Mr. Mildenberg, who claims to have a great deal of respect for Philly’s first Black District Attorney, called on Mr. Williams, whose office said no crime had been committed on the early morning of December 15th, to re-open the criminal investigation and pursue charges of obstruction of justice and interference with a police investigation at a minimum, and murder at a maximum.
For Mrs. Tanya Brown-Dickerson, who cried when presented with a plaque of truth from Mr. Mildenberg, repeated the words she stated since her son was murder: “accountability, accountability, accountability.”
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Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
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Photo: From L to R: Mr. Greg Brinkley, a private investigator; Mr. Brian Mildernberg, attorney; Mrs. Tanya Brown-Dickerson, mother of Mr. Brandon Tate-Brown; and activist Asa Khalif (red shirt), cousin to the Tate-Brown family at a press conference in Center City Philadelphia. C. Norris – ©2015