ST. LOUIS — One of the five people charged with property damage during a Ferguson protest this weekend is recusing himself from his duties on the city’s police oversight board until his case is resolved.
Keith Rose on Saturday was charged alongside four other people with damaging the Ferguson Police Department’s fence during a protest on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. He said he was arrested Friday night and posted a $500 bond.
“I am highly confident that the charge against me will be dropped once the prosecution reviews all of the evidence, but if not, I am prepared to defend myself against this accusation,†he told the Post-Dispatch. He noted that he was charged on the same day 10 years ago during the original Michael Brown protests and was found not guilty after a bench trial. “I expect a similar outcome in this case.â€
Rose’s charge stems from a gathering of about 40 people Friday night to observe the protest anniversary. The night started as a reunion in front of the Ferguson police headquarters, but just before 11 p.m., police went out to arrest about five people, including Rose, for damaging a fence in front of the Ferguson Police Department.
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That’s when Officer Travis Brown was shoved while trying to arrest someone and fell. He hit his head on the ground and suffered a severe brain injury.
The officer was “fighting for his life†this weekend, according to Ferguson police Chief Troy Doyle. Brown’s condition had not changed Monday, according to a department spokeswoman.
Rose faces one charge of property damage and is not accused of being involved in injuring the officer.
Rose was appointed earlier this year to the Civilian Oversight Board, which reviews complaints against ºüÀêÊÓƵ police.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said Monday afternoon that Rose agreed to recuse himself “from all board activity except for training.â€
Rose said he did this to “protect the institution†and its decisions on police oversight while his case moves through ºüÀêÊÓƵ County court.
The mayor said she nominated Rose for the position after he was “the only eligible applicant†for it. He was then unanimously confirmed by the Board of Aldermen.
The mayor cannot remove someone from the Civilian Oversight Board, according to city ordinance. Instead, board members can vote to request the Board of Aldermen to act to remove a member.
Rose also ran unopposed in last week’s primary to become a Democratic committeeman for the city’s Ward 6, which includes Tower Grove Park and the areas north and south of it.
An officer wrote in a charging document that there is video of Rose breaking the lower part of the police department’s gate by “pushing and kicking and holding the gate with his arms.â€
Rose said on Monday that he did not want to comment on the accusations until he could review all the evidence. He said he was “more focused on the officer’s recovery†and making sure everyone who was charged is home and safe.
“This case will be handled in due time,†he said. “But right now, we have someone in the hospital, and I’m thinking more about that than adjudicating the specifics of the charges.â€
He said his lawyer is also inquiring about a bond condition that he must stay off social media, noting he’s been made aware of negative posts about him by people affiliated with the police union.
“I would like to respond to them,†he said.
The other four people charged this weekend include 28-year-old Elijah Gantt. He’s accused of not only damaging the fence but also shoving Brown, the injured officer, as he tried to arrest Gantt. The East ºüÀêÊÓƵ man remains in jail on a $500,00 cash-only bond on two counts of fourth-degree assault on a special victim, resisting arrest, first-degree assault and property damage.
Gantt’s mother told the Post-Dispatch he is a youth minister who works closely with Bishop Derrick Robinson, one of the four other people also charged after Friday night’s protest.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ resident Emily Davis was arrested during the protest and was charged with third-degree assault on a special victim and resisting or interfering with arrest.
Court records indicate she posted a $5,000 cash-only bond and was released from jail.
Prosecutors also charged Robinson and ºüÀêÊÓƵ resident Phillip March with first-degree property damage.
