Protests Held in Wake of Chattanooga Police Shooting
A group of protestors rallying on the steps of Chattanooga City Hall in protest of the Chattanooga Police shooting death of Roger Heard Jr.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tensions were high at tonight’s Chattanooga City Council meeting.
Protestors showed up and voiced their concerns over a fatal police shooting last week.
Last Friday night, three Chattanooga Police Officers, named on Tuesday afternoon as Celtain Batterson, Nicholas Ayres, and Christopher Dyess attempted to execute a warrant at the Speedway Gas Station on East Third Street.
CPD says the resulting incident resulted in an exchange of gunfire and the death of 34 year old Roger Heard Jr.
Batterson was also injured in the shooting.
All three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.
On Tuesday evening, a large number of protestors came to City Hall for this week’s City Council meeting.
Primarily, protestors along with the NAACP want body cam footage released of the incident.
CPD says they have sent these videos and other evidence to the ongoing TBI investigation.
Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy said, “I just ask that everyone remains patient as we go through the process of making sure that this investigation is done right. Not fast, but done correctly.”
Many protestors intended on speaking in the public comment section, but found the format not to their liking.
One exchange saw Chattanooga Councilperson for District 2 and Vice Chair Jenny Hill tell a speaker, “So we’re here to listen, but we’re not in a situation to do a back and forth tonight.”
That speaker, Yolandra Porter, responded, “So what’s the use of us coming to the podium if you are not going to give us no feedback?”
Most of the audience immediately walked out and continued the protest in front of City Hall.
Other concerns include what is perceived as a lack of oversight, as recently the city’s Police Community Oversight Board was shut down due to a new state law.
Questions were raised by protestors over the nature of the traffic stop itself that led to the shooting.
An organizer of the protest, Marie Mott, said, “There are these traffic stops by unmarked cars that are targeted towards low-income and black and brown communities. We know that we see those people driving around following us, surveilling us, and then doing it without any oversight.”
She added, “Everybody left it up to the Mama, to pick up the broken pieces of an entire family!
NiSome protestors continued after the protest at City Hall ended.
They moved over to the Speedway Cafe on East Third Street where the police shooting occurred.
With the anger over Heard’s loss, some also want the public to remember good things about Roger Heard Jr.
A protestor, DaRickea Howell, recalled, “I (grew) up with Mr. Roger Heard. I will say he was a protector back in school. He didn’t allow people to get bullied. He was a really great person by heart.”
