Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
The investigative findings of the April 12 incident of closed-fist strikes used by Kinston police officers on a suspect will be disclosed publicly this evening.
A press conference will be held at 6:15 p.m. today inside Kinston City Council chambers for credentialed media.
The officers McKinley Jones and Kevin Page, both 22, have not received a dismissal, suspension, or demotion for disciplinary reasons taken by the city. The two officers were put on administrative leave following the incident during the investigation into their use of force in this case.
Officers responded to a panic alarm at 111 W. Vernon Ave. in Kinston. The address is listed as Little Caesars Pizza. Officers touched base with a 38-year-old woman who was the 911 caller.
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
A bill filed last month in the North Carolina Legislature that would allow the public greater access to the personnel files of state and local government employees including teachers, law enforcement and city and county workers moved one step closer to passage this week.
Senate Bill 355, which would grant public access to information concerning terminations, suspensions and other disciplinary actions, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 27 and now heads to the Rules Committee.
If approved by the General Assembly, SB 355 will become effective Dec. 1, 2021 and will directly affect local stories covered by The Free Press involving law enforcement, the school system, and local government personnel.
Kinston community reacts to the Chauvin guilty verdict amid its own alleged police brutality
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges on Tuesday in the murder of George Floyd.
Though some members of the Kinston community felt justice was served, some couldn t find the words to say amid Chauvin s guilty verdict and Kinston s own alleged police brutality, which was caught on video Monday, April 12. I felt justice was served, Jeremy Lane, who attended Kinston s protest last year following the May 25 death of Floyd, said. The thing that gets misconstrued in any police brutality case, especially now with social media, is that the general public quickly assumes all police officers are the bad guys. That couldn t be further from the truth. We amplify a very small, small percentage of bad apples to the point we believe the whole bunch is spoiled.
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy posted a video update Friday afternoon on the investigation into the use of force used by two police officers Monday afternoon.
The investigation continues and footage of the encounter that led to officers Kevin Page and McKinley Jones using open fist strikes on 36-year-old David Lee Bruton Jr. at the conclusion of a foot chase.
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
The arrest of David Lee Bruton Jr., 36, was publicized by a Facebook video posted by a passenger in a car at the corner of West Vernon Avenue and Queen Street. The video appears to show Kinston Police Department officers punching Bruton after a foot chase.
Here s what we know so far about what happened and when.
- Monday, April 12 at 6:38 p.m. Kinston police respond to the Little Caesars Pizza at 111 W. Vernon Ave. in downtown Kinston after the panic alarm is triggered by a 38-year-old woman who works at the restaurant. According to witnesses, a man threatened one of the employees and walked away when officers arrived.