Early this morning, MSNBC posted an interview with Dorian Johnson, a 22-year-old from Ferguson, Missouri, who says he was the other man walking with Michael Brown before the incident that led to Brown’s death:
The officer demanded that the two “get the f—k on the sidewalk,” Johnson says. “His exact words were ‘Get the f—k on the sidewalk.’ ”
After telling the officer that they were almost at their destination, Johnson’s house, the two continued walking. But as they did, Johnson says the officer slammed his brakes and threw his truck in reverse, nearly hitting them.
Now, in line with the officer’s driver’s side door, they could see the officer’s face. They heard him say something to the effect of, “what’d you say?” At the same time, Johnson says the officer attempted to thrust his door open but the door slammed into Brown and bounced closed. Johnson says the officer, with his left hand, grabbed Brown by the neck.
Johnson does not report seeing Brown attempt to take the officer’s gun, which police have claimed was the action that precipitated the shooting. He says Brown was first shot next to the patrol car, again after running away, and again after turning to face the attacking officer with his hands in the air. Johnson is being represented by Freeman Bosley, a former St. Louis mayor. Bosley says police haven’t spoken to Johnson and turned down Bosley’s offer to set up a meeting; the police haven’t responded to that claim.
