DNC delegate arrested in vicious, near-fatal attack on Ferguson police officer

A DNC delegate has been arrested in connection with a vicious attack that seriously injured a Ferguson, Missouri police officer and left him fighting for his life.

Last Friday, during a protest marking the tenth anniversary of the death of brutal teenage killer Michael Brown, Officer Travis Brown was pushed to the ground while making an arrest for property damage outside the police station. He suffered a brain injury after hitting his head and is currently in critical condition.

One of the individuals arrested was Keith Rose, an anti-police activist and member of the St. Louis Civilian Oversight Board. Louis, a body tasked with looking into allegations of police misconduct. Rose was also a DNC delegate at the time of the incident, just ten days before the Democratic Party was set to hold its convention to officially crown Kamala Harris in Chicago.

“Keith Rose has decided to voluntarily withdraw as an uncommitted alternate delegate to the DNC,” the Missouri Democratic Party said in a statement after he was identified as among those taken into custody. “The Missouri Democratic Party is taking appropriate action in accordance with party rules in replacing Mr. Rose with another non-hired alternate from the area.”

Ferguson police have released new body camera video showing the confrontation in which Brown was injured.

(Video credit: FOX 2 St. Louis)

The video shows Brown apparently being punched by 28-year-old Elijah Gantt after a crowd tried to knock down a perimeter fence. Gantt appears to take off before striking the officer and knocking him to the pavement.

“I think it’s a clear indication that my officer was charged and violently assaulted by this individual,” Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said Tuesday. “If you watch the video, the officer stands up and waits to arrest this guy. This guy tackled my guy like he was a football player.”

“Travis Brown got into this job because he was inspired to do the right thing,” Chief Doyle said at a news conference Saturday. “He wanted to be part of the change. He wanted to make an impact in our community. He is the type of officer we want in our community. And what happens? He is bullied. I had to look his mother in the eye and tell her what happened to her son.”

The officer has what has been described as a life-threatening brain injury.

Rose’s attorney, Javad Khazaeli, told FOX 2 his client’s bond conditions prevent him from commenting on the case, but he disputed that the charges are legitimate.

“There is footage that shows Mr Rose was not involved in damaging the fence. We are confused why he was charged. This is the second time Ferguson has tried to charge him with property damage, the last time being the use of Crayola chalk on a sidewalk. We are confident that we will prevail again, as we did last time…our thoughts are with the officer who was injured,” the lawyer said in a statement to the media.

“I am very confident that the charge against me will be dropped once the prosecution reviews all the evidence, but if not, I am prepared to defend myself against this charge,” Rose told St. Louis Post Dispatch.

“Travis is more than a police officer; he is a devoted father, son, brother, uncle, godfather and friend. A man of strong faith, his heart is as big as his smile and his positive energy is truly contagious. TJ is also an athlete, adventurer, movie buff, and more. We know he is determined to continue living life to the fullest once he has recovered,” Officer Brown’s family said in a statement.

Staff writer

Chris Donaldson is an ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who despise our hard-won freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and lives in Florida.

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