Jackson County prosecutor denounces city charges against nonviolent protesters
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Thursday denounced the Kansas City prosecutor’s office for filing charges against nonviolent protesters.
In a statement, Baker made clear her office has not filed charges against protesters arrested during recent demonstrations on the Country Club Plaza for minor offenses, such as stepping off a street curb.
Those were filed by the city prosecutor’s office.
“I suggest making your voices heard about those arrests to city officials or the city prosecutor’s office,” Baker said.
After receiving many calls and speaking with Henry Service, an organizer with the protest group Enough is Enough, Baker said it was clear residents believed her office was filing said charges.
The city prosecutor’s office reports to Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Council.
Chris Hernandez, a city spokesman, said it was important to remember that city and state charges are filed differently.
At the municipal level, tickets are automatically added to an electronic system, which sees thousands of charges each week in Kansas City, he said.
During an initial review, staff check to see if there is enough information to issue a summons, Hernandez said. But a more “in-depth” review comes later.
“I think some people might have in their mind that, ‘Oh, why did they even file these charges in the first place?’” he said. “Well, that’s how it works at the state level, but at the municipal level, it’s pretty much just electronic checkmarks pushing through the system and then the review happens later.”
Hernandez said given “this is a special circumstance,” the city prosecutor is going to make a special effort to review these particular charges prior to people getting to their court dates.
Excessive force complaints
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office also announced it would soon launch a web page to receive any evidence, such as videos, of possible excessive use of force by police at the protests. Submissions will be able to be made anonymously.
Baker also said her office would review cases submitted by police of people throwing dangerous objects.
Prosecutors have already asked for an investigation into one video of an incident of police pepper spraying protesters.
The video, posted to Twitter on Saturday, captured a line of officers standing at ease in the street at the Plaza during a demonstration protesting police brutality and the killing of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
A protester steps forward from the crowd and yells at officers, saying they “overreact in the moment.”
“If you ain’t got the balls to protect the streets and protect and serve like you was paid to do, turn in your damn badge,” the man yells.
Several officers approach the man and another demonstrator, dousing them with pepper spray canisters. The man was pulled into the street and then arrested.
Jackson County prosecutors have charged four people accused of stealing clothing, tennis shoes and other items from three stores that were vandalized during protest on the Plaza.
County prosecutors also charged a Kansas City man after he allegedly suggested looting a Walmart in Raytown on social media.
None of those charged by county prosecutors remain in custody, Baker said Thursday. People wanting to help release protesters held on municipal charges should consult the Kansas City Community Bail Fund, she said.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 11:01 AM.
