January 24, 2015
NJ.com/for PhillyVoice
The release of the dash-cam video has added fire to the ongoing national controversy over police conduct.
Jerame Reid, 36, was pulled over in the southern New Jersey town of Bridgeton on December 30, 2014. Police confronted him at the scene and demanded he cooperate, but the interaction ultimately led to Reid, a black man, being fatally shot by officer Braheme Days and his partner.
A report from Newsworks, which contains the video in question, notes that a lawyer hired by Reid's wife says the footage "raises serious questions" about the legality of the officers' actions.
On Friday, Bridgetown mayor Albert Kelly expressed support for the prosecutor's office in its investigation of the incident. According to Philly.com, Kelly was joined by civic leaders, including the state NAACP, in commending the community for its peaceful response to the shooting thus far as the investigation takes place. Bridgeton is a struggling, mostly minority city comprised of nearly 80% blacks and Hispanics.
While the town's mayor was initially reluctant to publicly release the dash-cam video, a South Jersey Times open-records request ultimately resulted its becoming available this week.
"I cringe every time I see the video" Mayor Kelly said, but also added, "we did not want the perception to be that we are hiding anything from the public.
According to Philly.com, Jerame Reid did have a criminal history, including a nearly 15-year sentence for attempted murder.
There has been some debate that the case should be handled by the state attorney general, NJ.com reports, however at this point it appears it will be conducted by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.
