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From YouTube: CMPD Press Briefing - January 31, 2020
Description
This is a live press briefing form the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) on January 31, 2020. Thanks for joining us!
A
January
23rd,
just
last
week,
Metro
Division
Officers
for
those
of
you
who
haven't
been
fully
plugged
in
with
the
Charlotte
Mecklenburg
Police
Department
did
a
car
stop
pulled
over
41
year
old,
Harold
Easter.
During
that
car
stop
in
West
Charlotte
mr.
Easter,
he
was
taken
into
custody
out
there
on
the
scene
and
transported
back
to
the
Metro
Division
team
office
on
Babies
Ford
Road.
During
that
arrest,
processing
he's
back
there
at
the
team
office,
mr.
Easter
experienced
a
medical
episode
and
he
lost
consciousness.
Metro
division
officers
identified
that
crisis,
that
medical
crisis
that
mr.
A
Easter
was
in
at
the
time
administered
first
aid
called
medic
medic,
arrived
and
transported
mr.
Easter
to
the
hospital
to
a
local
hospital.
He
was
in
the
hospital
for
several
days
before
you
know,
tragically
dying
in
the
hospital
on
January
26th.
The
five
officers
that
were
involved
in
the
rest
were
identified
earlier
this
week
and
anyone
who
needs
that
information
could
see
me
offline
and
I'll
be
happy
to
get
that
to
you.
They
were
all
five
of
them
that
were
involved
in
the
arrest.
A
As
indicated
in
the
information
we
released
earlier
in
the
week,
I've
been
placed
on
administrative
leave
and
that's
protocol
anytime,
that
there's
really
an
officer-involved
shooting
or
someone
dies
in
the
custody
of
Charlotte
Mecklenburg
Police
Officer,
C
and
PD
homicide
detectives
launched
an
investigation
into
the
circumstances
surrounding
the
incident.
Since
that
time,
there
has
been
a
significant
development
in
the
investigation
and
chief
Putney's
here
this
afternoon
to
walk
you
through
what
that
development
is.
A
We
also
have
District
Attorney
Spencer
Merryweather
here
from
the
district
attorney's
office
this
afternoon,
to
walk
you
through
the
protocol,
the
investigative
protocol
when
it
comes
to
C,
MPD
officer,
involved
shootings
expectations
in
custody
deaths.
So
we
also
have
the
district
attorney
with
us
here
this
afternoon,
but
before
I
do
introduce
the
chief
just
wanted.
You
know
a
little
housekeeping,
neither
the
district
attorney
or
the
police
chief
are
going
to
get
into
any
of
the
hyper
specifics.
With
regard
to
the
investigation.
Has
it
reported
yesterday.
A
This
is
an
independent
third-party
investigation
being
conducted
by
the
State
Bureau
of
Investigation,
their
case
they're
doing
their
investigative
work.
Both
men
feel
that
it
would
be
disrespectful
to
the
process
and
could
possibly
hinder
that
independent
work,
that's
being
done
on
behalf
of
the
SBI
or
right
now,
so
they're
gonna
refrain
from
answering
anything
with
regard
to
the
specific
case
out
or
independent
of
anything
I
just
outlined
a
little
bit
earlier.
I
think
we'd
all
agree
that
you
know
we
need
to
respect
the
process.
We
owe
that
to
the
Easter
family.
A
B
The
big
development
really
is
just
a
transition
on
who
leads
the
investigation,
so
the
incident
happened.
You
know
about
a
week
ago,
two
days
ago,
we
were
found
in
a
position
where
the
district
attorney
and
I
could
have
a
conversation
us
and
within
those
two
days
as
well.
We
didn't
make
contact
with
the
family
to
give
them
preference
talk
about
the
preference
and
give
deference
to
them
about
who
leads
this
investigation.
They
chose
to
have
it
independently
investigated.
The
criminal
investigation
now
transitions.
B
Couple
things
for
me,
one
of
which
is
this
transfer,
we're
working
through
the
policy
that
really
the
state
mandates
that
there's
an
option
for
the
family
of
the
deceased
to
choose
an
independent
investigation
based
on
and
also
involved,
firearm
related
fatality
and
serious
bodily
injury.
The
protocol
that
the
district
attorney
has
implemented
is
a
bit
more
proactive.
I'll
talk
about
the
legal
standard.
I
just
gave
that
to
you.
We
always
want
a
higher
standard.
We
think
this
protocol
is
allowing
for
that.
This
is
no
indictment
on
the
work
of
our
detectives.
B
Our
detectives
work
and
investigations
is
second
to
none,
the
technology
that
we
have
been
blessed
with
here
locally.
Second
to
none,
but
there
is
a
need
for
independence.
This
is
protocol.
That's
the
process
that
we're
going
to
talk
about
any
time.
There's
a
loss
of
life.
It's
a
big
deal,
be
it
also
involved,
shooting
or
now
we
see
an
in-custody
part
goes
out
to
the
Easter
family
just
met
some
of
them
are
here
today.
This
is
not
easy,
it
never
is
I
wish.
B
I
could
tell
you
there
that
this
is
gonna,
be
a
pristine
type
of
situation.
It's
not.
No
loss
of
life
is
easy
to
watch.
This
is
no
different.
I
will
tell
you,
though,
that
I
have
poured
the
district
attorney
in
the
work
we're
doing
with
this
protocol
and
it's
under
construction.
It
is
not
perfect
and
I
know
in
this
line
of
work.
When
you
make
changes,
people
assume
that
you've
done
something
wrong.
B
I,
don't
see
that
I
think
we're
looking
to
exceed
that
legal
standard,
and
this
is
how
it
works,
and
this
is
an
extension
of
the
intent
of
that
protocol.
We
want
to
be
independent
when
independence
is
needed
when
the
family
requests
it
and
we're
allowable.
For
that
not
just
what
also
involved
shootings,
though
at
the
conclusion
of
the
SBI's
investigation,
it
goes
into
the
hands
of
the
district
attorney,
and
then
we
launch
our
internal
investigation.
The
criminal
talks
about
whether
or
not
the
incident
was
within
the
boundaries
of
law.
This
also
involved
in
custody.
B
District
attorney
and
I'll
turn
it
over
to
him,
but
we're
here
now
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have,
but
first
I
want
you
to
hear
from
him
the
expectations,
the
reasons
behind
and
what
that
policy
looks
like
as
it
stands
today
and
how
we
can
continue
to
to
to
contribute
to
improving
it.
As
we
move
forward.
C
Again,
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
speak
with
you
briefly
today.
I
think
I
speak
on
I
know,
I
speak
on
behalf
of
everyone
in
the
District
Attorney's
Office.
Our
hearts
are
certainly
with
the
family
of
mr.
Easter.
I
am
in
an
unfamiliar
circumstance
and,
speaking
with
you
today
about
a
case
that
is
still
under
investigation.
C
As
a
matter
of
fact,
I
won't
be
saying
very
much
to
you
with
regard
to
any
of
this
except
I.
Do
want
to
be
able
to
explain
to
you
the
process
sort
of
took
place
on
what
goes
into
deciding
whether
or
not
a
third
party
organization
should
take
over
an
investigation
in
this
it
in
determining
the
policy
that
put
forth
a
few
months
ago.
This
was
all
about
trying
to
make
sure
that
public
trust
was
at
the
forefront
of
what
we
did.
C
There
has
never
been
a
question
in
my
mind
about
the
competency
and
the
inability
of
the
Charlotte
Mecklenburg
Police
Department,
to
conduct
these
investigation,
and
they
have
done
so
better
than
any
law
enforcement
agency
in
the
state.
The
question,
however,
is
whether
or
not
it
is
the
best
outcome
for
a
law
enforcement
agency
to
conduct
an
investigation
where
some
of
its
own
officers
are
involved,
particularly
on
a
case
involving
fatality
and
serious
injury.
C
Now,
as
chief
Putney
indicated,
the
law
for
those
of
you
who
have
pencil
and
paper
onions,
north
Carriger,
no
statute,
147
90
does
direct
us
to
consult
with
the
family
and
hear
from
the
family,
and
if
the
family
decided
the
family
of
the
deceased
asked
for
an
investigation
in
a
case
involving
a
fatality
from
the
use
of
a
firearm
with
involving
an
officer,
then
in
fact
we
would
so
direct
the
SBI
to
conduct
that
investigation.
That
is
not
the
circumstance
here.
C
That
was
not
the
circumstance
that
I
contemplated
when
we
originally
put
forth
a
policy
just
a
few
months
ago.
We
wanted
something
a
bit
more
expensive
and
it's
what
you
have
seen
implemented
over
the
course
of
the
last
couple
of
months.
I
give
she
funding
a
lot
of
credit,
because,
even
though
the
circumstance
that's
before
you
today
falls
outside
of
a
use
of
force
continuum,
he
had
the
foresight
to
make
contact
with
me
and,
in
speaking
with
one
another
and
certainly
consulting
with
the
family
of
the
deceased.
C
It
was
extremely
important
that
we
proceed
as
we
have
and
what
has
been
announced
to
you
today
again
I
hate
that
I
won't
be
able
to
talk
a
whole
lot
about
the
details.
At
this
point,
I'll
merely
say
that
an
investigation
is
ongoing.
I
certainly
been
in
contact
with
agents
from
the
State
Bureau
of
Investigation
I'm,
going
to
let
that
at
investigation
and
see
where
the
evidence
leads
us
and
go
from
there
with
that.
D
C
D
C
Trust
public
confidence
I
think
that
you
know
both
the
chief
of
myself
find
ourselves
in
roles,
as
do
any
public
servants
to
make
sure
that
the
work
that
you
do
has
the
public's
confidence.
If
there
are
certain
procedural
things
that
we
can
do
differently
to
make
sure
that
that
confidence
is
established
and
that
that
Trust
is
maintained,
we
intend
to
do
it
now.
C
To
be
quite
honest,
it
all
won't
always
be
the
way
that
people
want
it
at
the
end
of
the
day,
particularly
in
a
circumstance
like
this
I
will
have
to
be
in
the
position
of
being
able
to
make
an
assessment
as
to
what's
appropriate
for
a
given
set
of
facts.
I
have
done
so
in
this
case.
I
have
done
so
in
previous
cases,
but
every
circumstance
and
every
set
of
facts
is
different
and
I,
along
with
other
officials.
We
need
to
take
a
look
at
what's
in
front
of
us.
C
You
heard
from
me
you
heard
from
our
office
just
a
few
months
ago
about
a
particular
type
of
case
that
we
would
be
directing
the
FBI
to
investigate,
and
yet
we
have
a
different
one.
It's
the
chief
said
it
best.
The
circumstances
are
evolving
unless
your
protocol
has
devolved
with
it
so
I
hope
that
answers
your
question.
B
Real
quick
about
that
too.
Here's
the
difficulty
balance
is
this.
If
you
were
to
ask
me
two
weeks
ago
about
the
work
that's
going
on
to
fight
crime,
this
would
be
the
type
of
office.
I
would
talk
about
it,
but
here's
the
deal,
everything
that
we
do
has
to
be
evaluated
and
that's
a
part
of
this
process
now,
based
on
the
outcome
that
I
talked
about,
that
we
just
highlighted
and
the
loss
of
life
that
evaluations
going
to
make
sure
we
maintain
public
trust.
B
B
B
E
E
C
We
made
the
change
we
made
over
august-september.
It
was
done
so
thoughtfully.
I
was
doing
so
trying
to
look
at
sort
of
what
the
what
history
told
us
and
I
think
that
we've
got
to
continue
to
do
that.
We
will
learn
something
from
every
state
of
fact,
every
set
of
facts
and
circumstances
that
we
face
all
of
them
being
unfortunate,
all
of
them
having
to
do
with
a
loss
of
life
or
serious
injury,
and
so
we
have
to
make
sure
that
we're
doing
it
carefully
and
thoughtfully
and
we'll
continue
to
do
that.
So.
E
C
B
C
B
A
B
B
Absolutely
not
that's,
gonna,
be
a
part
of
the
investigation.
Listen,
there's
a
fact-finding
mission,
that's
underway,
being
led
by
the
State
Bureau
of
Investigations,
all
of
those
things,
including
the
sequence
of
events
and
everything
else
that
you
want
to
see
and
hear
about,
but
that's
going
to
be
once
this
investigation
is
complete,
delivered
and
then
deliberated
by
the
district
attorney,
so
I
know
everybody
wants
to
know.
This
is
not
CSI
won't
be
wrapped
up
in
an
hour.