The lawyer representing Ferguson shooting suspect Jeffrey Williams says his client beaten during his arrest. St. Louis County Police deny the allegation. (Photo: St. Louis County Jail)
The lawyer for Jeffrey Williams, who is accused of wounding two police officers at a protest in Ferguson, Mo., last week, insisted Tuesday that his client did not shoot them — even though the prosecutor and a minister have said Williams admitted it.
The lawyer, Jerryl Christmas, also claimed that Williams was beaten during the arrest, a claim that police deny.
In addition, Christmas said the officers hit by gunfire were shot by accident, but would not say how he knows that if Williams was not the shooter. He said Williams did not fire a gun that night.
Christmas told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Williams had bruises on his back, neck and face as well as a knot on the back of his head, allegedly from the butt of an officer's gun.
St. Louis County police called allegations of excessive force, "completely false." A department statement said Williams was examined by a nurse at the Justice Center, who found him "fit for confinement."
County police Sgt. Brian Schellman said Williams' arrest was not videotaped, but that his statement to police — admitting he fired the shots— was. Officer Shawn McGuire said he was unsure whether Williams resisted arrest.
