ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Ferguson Police Department released footage of the events of the protests last week that led to officer Travis Brown suffering a head injury and being in critical condition.
Ferguson Police showed multiple clips of the incident last Friday during the 10th anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, with clips showing that the protests outside the police department started off as originally peaceful with police accommodating them and blocking the street outside the police station to protect demonstrators from vehicle traffic.
Then it started to get concerning with multiple protestors violently shaking a gate that was blocking the doors of the police station. Footage showed 28-year-old Elijah Gantt, of East St. Louis, Illinois, who was originally charged for the incident, was seen using a bullhorn to lead people to shake the gate.
The violent shaking of the gate led to a section of it being broke and Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle ultimately sending out officers including Brown to make arrests.
Video played at the news conference from two different angles shows a man, identified by Doyle as Gantt, had a running start and flattened Brown, whose head violently struck the pavement.
Officer Brown was unconscious and prone on his back with the suspect lying on this chest as other officers quickly arrived and jumped on the suspect.
Two other officers tried to arrest Gantt, but he kicked both of them and allegedly caused them to suffer bruises and scratches, according to officials.
Doyle said during the news conference of the release that there were claims that Brown fell to the ground, but the release of the footage shows otherwise.
"It wasn't two people colliding. If you look at the video, (Brown) is standing there waiting to catch this guy," Doyle said. " It wasn't a collision. He was standing there. (Gantt) tackled my guy like he’s a football player."
Gantt was originally charged with first-degree assault of a special victim, resisting arrest and property damage.
St. Louis County Wesley Bell announced Tuesday during the reveal of the body cam footage that Gantt has since been additionally charged with assault in the fourth-degree, which is a misdemeanor, in relation to kicking another officer in the head.
Bell also announced that there were also charges filed to multiple defendants during the night of protest including another defendant was charged with property damage for damaging the fence, as well as assault, he said.
Three others were charged with various other crimes. Bell said restraint by the police kept the situation from being worse and that police “did a tremendous job” of allowing protests that were originally peaceful.
Doyle also gave an update on the status of Brown and says he is still in critical condition. A prayer vigil was planned Tuesday evening outside the police station.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help lessen the financial burden Brown could face on his road to recovery.
This story will be updated as soon as more information is available.