[imc-st.louis] Jerome Johnson Civil Trial Coming

[Civilian Oversight Board Campaign]

Upcoming Jerome Johnson Civil Trial

Jerome Johnson is suing the St. Louis Police Dept. and the City of St. Louis for civil rights violations relating to his original shooting by St. Louis police and the subsequent harassment which went on for years. This trial has the possibility of exposing a pattern of abuse by a broad spectrum of St. Louis law enforcement. All who are interested are invited to attend the trial, which begins January 22, 9:00 a.m. in the Eagleton Federal Courts Building. It is being held in the courtroom of Judge Perry.

Most of you will remember the Jerome Johnson case. At age sixteen, he was shot seven times and survived. Police claimed that he shot at them, but newspaper investigations and eyewitness accounts discredited much of the police testimony. In 2002 Jerome was found innocent of all charges in a trial which exposed police accounts as totally impossible to accept.

Before and after the trial, Jerome was subjected to constant harassment. He was arrested on a gun charge which lacked any substance. He was shot at under suspicious circumstances. His family and friends were subject to violent threats and obscene verbal abuse by police. Jerome finally succumbed to the stress and was convicted of fleeing police and weapons possession. He claims that he felt his life was endangered by police at the time.

Jerome’s original exoneration was an historic event for St. Louis. This trial may well be another. It may take up to a week for all evidence to be presented. Please attend if you are able.


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