ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A grand jury has indicted the man accused of assaulting a Ferguson police officer last month, doubling the number of charges he faces.
Elijah Gantt’s criminal case stems from an Aug. 9 incident outside Ferguson police headquarters on the 10th anniversary of the police shooting of Michael Brown. Police said Gantt was running away from an officer who was trying to arrest him for property damage when the two collided. The officer, Travis Brown, was severely injured when he fell to the ground.
Gantt
Gantt was arrested moments after the collision and charged with three counts of fourth-degree assault on a special victim, resisting arrest, first-degree assault and property damage.
Following his indictment last week, Gantt faces three more counts of fourth-degree assault on a special victim, rioting, attempting to tamper with physical evidence and escape or attempted escape
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His lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, declined Wednesday to comment on the additional charges and indictment.
The Aug. 9 gathering of about 40 people started as a reunion but became turbulent about 11 p.m. when police went out to make arrests after protesters damaged a security gate outside the building.
Surveillance video showed Officer Brown being knocked to the ground by Gantt as he sprinted right at the officer.
Police also released body camera footage of the officer who arrested Gantt after pulling him off of Brown after the fall. It showed angry protesters screaming and swearing at the officers and following them as they tried to haul away Gantt. Gantt is also seen fighting to get away from police, kicking one officer in the shoulder, breaking free at least once and finally walking with two officers into the Ferguson fire station.
The officer hasn’t woken up since the incident.
“(Brown) continues to make small improvements so we are extremely encouraged,†said Pat Washington, Ferguson police spokeswoman. “He has shown some response to stimuli so doctors are encouraged but caution that there is so much they don’t yet know.â€
He remains in the intensive care unit as doctors also work to get his pneumonia under control, Washington said Wednesday.
At least four other people were charged following that protest.
Gantt remains in custody on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Ferguson police arrest Elijah Gantt outside the Ferguson police department on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after protests turned to turmoil on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death at a gathering of several of the original protesters.
A screenshot of surveillance video, showing the parking lot of the Andy Wurm Tire and Wheel across the street from the Ferguson Police Department. An arrow has been added to indicate where Elijah Gantt is about to run into police officer Travis Brown.Â
A screenshot from the video released by the Ferguson Police Department allegedly shows Elijah Gantt shaking the gate on a fence outside the department on Friday, Aug. 9 2024.Â
Surveillance video, showing the parking lot of the Andy Wurm Tire and Wheel across the street from the Ferguson Police Department, shows the moment Elijah Gantt crashed into police officer Travis Brown during a protest. Circles and text added for clarification.
