Chief Says Police Approached Scott Because He Was in Possession of a Gun and Marijuana
‘You Will Not See All That Was Recorded’
Chief Kerr Putney has just announced he will release dash and body cam video in his custody of the police shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott but made clear he has more video that he is not releasing. Putney says officers approached Scott because he was in possession of marijuana and because he had a gun and claims they saw a public safety issue.
There were four officers on the scene. The officer who shot Scott had not turned on their body or dash cam.
“You will not see all that was recorded,” Chief Putney told reporters.
“Officers are absolutely not being charged by me at this point,” Putney said. “Based on the totality of what we see,” Scott had a gun, Putney added.
Putney revealed that “there was marijuana there,” and added:Â “There was a crime that he had committed that caused the encounter and then the gun exacerbated the situation.”
Chief Putney added that the video will not put to rest all questions.
“The footage itself will not create in anyone’s mind absolutely certainty as to what this case represents & what the outcome will be.”
Putney also claimed officers do not shoot to kill.
He suggested Scott made a bad decision which led to his death.
“They perceived an imminent lethal threat and they reacted to it,” Putney said of Scott having a gun. Open carry is legal in North Carolina. Officers “were reacting to what they saw and they have a duty to do so,” he added.
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