Officer in Shooting of Unarmed Man Declining to Be Interviewed, Police Say
Officer Anand Badgujar, who shot and killed unarmed Robert Lawrence White, has “declined to be interviewed” by police investigators, according to an update on the case released by Montgomery County police.
Badgujar will be compelled to provide information once an internal administrative investigation begins, after the criminal investigation, police said.
Badgujar shot White on a quiet Silver Spring street June 11. Police Chief Tom Manger said that evening that investigators have body-camera footage from Badgujar and another officer. Witnesses have told police and media outlets they heard several shots, as many as six, during the incident.
Police also said:
- Montgomery police and representatives from the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office are scheduled to meet Monday, June 25, as part of the investigation of the shooting. The release of the body-worn camera video will be discussed at this meeting.
- As evidence is collected, it continues to be turned over to the Howard County State’s Attorney, including the body-camera footage and a statement from an eyewitness. Autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, to include toxicology and injuries to the decedent, are pending and will be shared with the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Montgomery and Howard counties have an agreement where one county receives the evidence of the other’s police-involved shootings. The other county decides whether to prosecute.
The police statement also said:
There have been a number of questions received from the community and the media regarding the training that officers receive on dealing with individuals experiencing mental health issues and/or with cognitive disabilities. During the police training academy officers receive the following training:
* An eight-hour block of instruction on Mental Health First Aid.
* De-escalation techniques.
* Effective communication strategies.
* Implicit bias.
* Scenario-based Conflict Management training that emphasizes creating distance between the officer and a potential threat.
Over the last 17 years, the Department has provided Crisis Intervention Training to over 1,100 Montgomery County Police officers and an additional 1,400 officers from other law enforcement agencies. This 40-hour class is an advanced program designed for officers who respond to 911 calls or routinely come into contact with the public.
Some of the additional questions that remain as part of this investigation include:
* What initially drew the officer’s attention to Mr. White?
* What was the basis for the officer trying to stop Mr. White?
More information will be released as it becomes available.
The article makes it seem like the officer is doing something wrong by declining to provide a statement. Let’s not forget, it is EVERYONE’S right under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution to remain silent. Would the headline read the same if it were a citizen who shot and killed a police officer and that citizen declined to give a statement to detectives conducting the investigation?
Funny The officer did not mind violating Rob White rights.
Do you know what happened between Officer Badgujar and Rob White? Were you there? Unless you were, or you know the results of the investigation, which apparently no one does at this point, you shouldn’t be making assumptions about whether Rob White’s rights were violated. I’m all for holding people accountable if they do wrong, but I’m also going to hold my judgment until ALL THE FACTS are in.
And how do you know that?
It is the job of the police to protect constitutional rights. Glad to see this police officer exercising the rights he protects. These days odds are against the police who put up with with a political police chief and a bunch of politicians who cannot stomach the realities of what goes on when they are safe in their houses and offices.