Jonesboro PD: Chavis Carter told Girlfriend He Had Gun in Patrol Car
By: Joey Hollingsworth
Updated: August 22, 2012
The Jonesboro Police Department has released more information regarding the night Chavis Carter died from a gunshot wound to the head while handcuffed in the back of a patrol car.
Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, and in an effort to shed light on some events on the night in question, they have released what they call a preliminary summary hoping to provide answers to as many questions as possible, which they say they would not normally do.
Jonesboro PD emphasize that the investigation is still ongoing, and this is not a final report.
The report says all the dash cam videos have been released, and the patrol units involved in this case were not equipped with rear-facing cameras. The cameras in the vehicles can be turned on and off manually from inside the car, or automatically when the blue lights go on or off.
The first responding officer turns on his blue lights during the initial traffic stop, thus activating his dashboard camera. Video from the second responding officer is rendered useless by facing a street light or another vehicle's lights, according to the report.
Although the second responding officer's audio appeared to be working, it apparently malfunctioned during the second search of Carter, which according to the report, explains why no gunshot was audible.
Police say no tests for gunshot residue were conducted as outlined in their policy, which was issued in a memo back in March of 2001.
The memo reads "Statistics gathered at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory demonstrate that 50 percent of suicide victims had negative results. Analyzing kits collected from suicide victims may cause confusion and may lead some to the erroneous conclusion that the victim was murdered."
Carter's girlfriend, in an interview conducted Wednesday, told investigators that he called her from the back of the car, told her he loved her, he had a gun on him and he was scared, according to the report.
Finally, the report states that "there appears to be no doubt" that the officer missed the gun during the first pat-down of Carter because they didn't know if he would be released or arrested, as they hadn't yet learned his true identity.
The officer placed Carter in the back of the car without handcuffs, which is when they presume he hid the gun.
To read the entire report, click here.
Police also released an interview with Brandon Baker, who is currently in Greene County Jail on an aggravated burglary charge. Police say Baker was seen in a recent video shot on Carter's phone smoking marijuana with two juveniles approximately 10-years-old.
About 30 minutes before Carter was contacted by police, Baker sent Carter a text message asking him to bring over the gun, according to the report.
To hear the interview, watch the embedded video.
Continuing Coverage:
Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, and in an effort to shed light on some events on the night in question, they have released what they call a preliminary summary hoping to provide answers to as many questions as possible, which they say they would not normally do.
Jonesboro PD emphasize that the investigation is still ongoing, and this is not a final report.
The report says all the dash cam videos have been released, and the patrol units involved in this case were not equipped with rear-facing cameras. The cameras in the vehicles can be turned on and off manually from inside the car, or automatically when the blue lights go on or off.
The first responding officer turns on his blue lights during the initial traffic stop, thus activating his dashboard camera. Video from the second responding officer is rendered useless by facing a street light or another vehicle's lights, according to the report.
Although the second responding officer's audio appeared to be working, it apparently malfunctioned during the second search of Carter, which according to the report, explains why no gunshot was audible.
Police say no tests for gunshot residue were conducted as outlined in their policy, which was issued in a memo back in March of 2001.
The memo reads "Statistics gathered at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory demonstrate that 50 percent of suicide victims had negative results. Analyzing kits collected from suicide victims may cause confusion and may lead some to the erroneous conclusion that the victim was murdered."
Carter's girlfriend, in an interview conducted Wednesday, told investigators that he called her from the back of the car, told her he loved her, he had a gun on him and he was scared, according to the report.
Finally, the report states that "there appears to be no doubt" that the officer missed the gun during the first pat-down of Carter because they didn't know if he would be released or arrested, as they hadn't yet learned his true identity.
The officer placed Carter in the back of the car without handcuffs, which is when they presume he hid the gun.
To read the entire report, click here.
Police also released an interview with Brandon Baker, who is currently in Greene County Jail on an aggravated burglary charge. Police say Baker was seen in a recent video shot on Carter's phone smoking marijuana with two juveniles approximately 10-years-old.
About 30 minutes before Carter was contacted by police, Baker sent Carter a text message asking him to bring over the gun, according to the report.
To hear the interview, watch the embedded video.
Continuing Coverage:
- Rev. Jesse Jackson to Address Chavis Carter Case in Memphis, Jonesboro
- Jonesboro PD Release Chavis Carter Autopsy Report
- Web Extra: Jonesboro PD Release Chavis Carter Dashcam Video, Witness Interviews
- Web Extra: FBI Investigating Chavis Carter Case
- Police Reenact Cuffed Suspect Shooting in Video
- Jonesboro Police Release Report on In-Custody Death
Comments
Well thank Goodness that Rev Jesse Jackson is here. All we need now is Al Sharpton and I can sleep at night knowing we get to the TRUTH and can get "justice"!! The girlfriend is obviously lying that he said he had a gun...OR maybe that info accidentally slipped ugh?
David B.
August 22, 2012 at 6:41 pm
