STEPFATHER'S PROPERTY. AND THE CHARGES HE IS NOW
FACING.
>>
>> Reporter: YEAH JESSICA THERE IS A REVIEW OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE BUDGET GOING
RIGHT
RIGHT NOW
RIGHT NOW IN A VIRTUAL SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
COUNCIL MEETING. THE COUNCIL CALLING THIS AN
INQUEST OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
DEPARTMENT BUDGET. THIS IS ALL BEEN PROMPTED BY
THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND
THE REACTION BY SEATTLE POLICE
CHIEF PROTESTS HERE WITHIN THE
CITY.
CITY.
CITY. TODAY THE CITY'S BUDGET OFFICE
LAID OUT POWERPOINT SHOWING THE
2020 BUDGET OF $409 MILLION.
82% OF THAT FOR PERSONNEL.
NOW PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR
DEFUNDING THE POLICE BUT IT IS
LIKELY LINE ITEMS WILL BE
EXAMINED, LIKE THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY USED FOR DEMONSTRATIONS.
$67,000 THIS YEAR.
THE BUDGET OFFICE SAYS THE CITY
COULD SAVE, FOR INSTANCE,
$40,000 A YEAR BY NOT
PURCHASING BLAST BALLS AND TEAR
GAS.
GAS.
GAS. ALL
GAS. ALL OF THIS CONVERSATION IS
FOLDING INTO A LARGER
DISCUSSION ABOUT CUTTING CITY
SPENDING BECAUSE OF REVENUE
SHORTFALLS RELATED TO THE
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN
ECONOMIC FALLOUT.
ECONOMIC FALLOUT. COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA
IS SAYING THE COUNCIL IS
WAITING ON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
>> THEY HAVE ASKED FOR
ADDITIONAL TIME.
ADDITIONAL TIME. AT LEAST A WEEK OR POTENTIALLY
MORE FOR THEM TO RESPOND TO THE
CRISIS, THAT I THINK EVERYBODY
IS SEEING IN THE STREET.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
RECEIVING THAT BUDGET.
I THINK THAT IS POTENTIALLY
GOOD NEWS THAT THE WORDS AND
CALL FROM COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN
HEARD AND THEY HAVE HELD ONTO
THAT BUDGET TO DO SOME
ADDITIONAL --
ADDITIONAL -- >> Reporter: THIS IS A PROCESS
THAT COULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS.
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT IS
PART OF THE MEETING AND SHE WAS
PART OF A RALLY YESTERDAY IN
WHICH SHE WAS ALLEGED TO ALLOW
SOME OF THE PROTESTERS TO COME
INSIDE CITY HALL.
WE LEARN TODAY THERE HAS BEEN A
FORMAL COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE
CITY BY A CITY EMPLOYEE WHO
BELIEVES THE UNION JANITORIAL
STAFF'S HELP WAS PUT AT RISK BY
THAT DEMONSTRATION AND THEY
ALSO ALLEGE THAT A PIECE OF
ARTWORK ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF
CITY HALL WAS DAMAGED BY ONE OF
THOSE PROTESTERS.
THOSE PROTESTERS. LIVE AT SEATTLE CITY HALL, I AM
CHRIS DAVIS, KING 5 NEWS.
>> CHRIS IS THE COUNCIL TALKING
AT ALL ABOUT A FULL-SCALE
DEFUNDING OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT?
DEPARTMENT? >> Reporter: YEAH THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION JOYCE, THAT WORD
DEFUNDING MEANS DIFFERENT
THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
YOU HEAR FROM KSHAMA SAWANT IT
MEANS ELIMINATING ALL THE
FUNDING.
FUNDING.
FUNDING. YOU HEAR FROM SOMEONE LIKE
TERESA MOSQUEDA IT MEANS
CUTTING BACK BY HALF OR MORE.
AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO
BELIEVE THAT GOING LINE ITEM BY
LINE ITEM WOULD ALLOW
REIMAGINING OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTMENT. SO THERE IS A LOT TO DISCUSS
HERE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
WEEKS.
WEEKS.
WEEKS. >>
WEEKS. >> ALL RIGHT, CHRIS DANIELS
REPORTING LIVE FOR US, THANK
YOU.
YOU.
YOU. >>>
YOU. >>> WELL A 31-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED
OF DRIVING THROUGH THIS CROWD
AND SHOOTING AT PROTESTERS IN
SEATTLE'S CAPITOL HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD ON SUNDAY NIGHT IS
NOW FACING A CLASS C FELONY.
NICHOLAS ALEXANDER IS CHARGED
WITH ONE COUNT OF ASSAULT IN
THE FIRST DEGREE.
IN COURT TODAY HE SAID HE WAS
ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE.
THE JUDGE SAID HIS BAIL AT
$150,000.
$150,000.
$150,000. >>> JUST A DAY AFTER LAYING HIS
BROTHER TO REST, GEORGE FLOYD'S
BROTHER WENT TO CAPITOL HILL
DEMANDING A CHANGE IN OUR
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. PHILONISE FLOYD GIVE PASSIONATE
TESTIMONY THING HE HOPES HIS
BROTHER'S DEATH WILL CHANGE THE
WORLD FOR THE BETTER.
>> I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO MAKE
IT STOP.
IT STOP.
IT STOP. STOP THE PAIN.
STOP US FROM BEING TIRED.
GEORGE CALLED FOR HELP, AND HE
WAS IGNORED.
WAS IGNORED. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CALLS I'M
MAKING TO YOU NOW.
TO THE CALLS OF OUR FAMILY ON
THE CALLS RINGING OUT THE
STREETS ACROSS THE WORLD.
PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS,
GENDERS AND RACES HAVE COME
TOGETHER TO DEMAND CHANGE.
HONOR THEM.
HONOR THEM. HONOR GEORGE, AND MAKE THE
NECESSARY CHANGES THAT MAKE LAW
ENFORCEMENT THE SOLUTION, AND
NOT THE PROBLEM.
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY
DO SOMETHING WRONG.
TEACH THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO
TREAT PEOPLE WITH EMPATHY AND
RESPECT.
RESPECT.
RESPECT. TEACH THEM WHAT NECESSARY
FORCES.
FORCES.
FORCES. TEACH THEM THAT DAILY FORCE
SHOULD BE USED RARELY AND ONLY
WHEN LIFE IS AT RISK.
GEORGE WASN'T HURTING ANYONE
THAT DAY.
THAT DAY.
THAT DAY. HE DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE OVER
$20.
$20.
$20. AND
$20. AND ASKING YOU, IS THAT WHAT A
BLACK MAN'S WORTH?
$20?
$20?
$20? THIS
$20? THIS IS 2020.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
THE PEOPLE MARCHING IN THE
STREETS TELLING YOU ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH. >> SUCH A POWERFUL MOMENT,
JOYCE, AND I THINK THERE IS NO
ONE THAT DOES NOT SEE THAT AND
SAY WHAT STRENGTH THEM RESOLVE
AND DETERMINATION IT TAKES TO GO
ONE DAY AFTER BURYING YOUR
BROTHER, TO GO SPEAK WITH
LAWMAKERS LIKE THAT.
>> JUST INCREDIBLE, HE WAS SO
EMOTIONAL TOO.
EMOTIONAL TOO. ALL OF THE THINGS HE SAID, ALL
OF IT SO POWERFUL.
I REMEMBER HIM SPECIFICALLY
SAYING IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD
FOR HIS FAMILY TO WATCH THAT
VIDEO OVER AND OVER, BECAUSE IT
JUST LOOKED LIKE NOBODY CARED.
THAT THE OFFICERS DIDN'T CARE,
AND YOU KNOW HE SAID HIS
BROTHER'S LIFE MATTERED, THAT
BLACK LIVES MATTER, AND HE WAS
PLEADING WITH LAWMAKERS TO MAKE
SURE THAT HIS BROTHER'S LIFE
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LOST IN
VAIN.
VAIN.
VAIN. IT
VAIN. IT WAS REALLY QUITE A MOMENT.
>>> YOU KNOW JUST LESS THAN 30
MINUTES AGO I SPOKE TO
CONGRESSWOMAN CAMILLA JAIPUR,
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED
FOR POLICE REFORM.
>> IF WE HAD ALREADY BAND
CHOKEHOLD, GEORGE FLOYD WOULD
BE ALIVE.
BE ALIVE.
BE ALIVE. IF WE HAD ALREADY BOND NO KNOCK
WARRANTS, BREONNA TAYLOR WOULD
BE ALIVE.
BE ALIVE.
BE ALIVE. IF WE HAD ALREADY PUSHED FOR A
DEMILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE
FORCE, AND PUSHED TO HAVE
OFFICERS MISCONDUCT FOLLOW THEM
FROM JOB TO JOB, WE WOULD HAVE
SAVED LIVES.
SAVED LIVES. UNTIL NOW IT IS INCUMBENT UPON
US AS PHILONISE FLOYD SAID, TO
PASS THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
TO RESPOND TO THE CALLS, THE
URGENT CALLS FROM ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY TO PUT FORCE BEHIND THE
WORDS BLACK LIVES MATTER.
SHE SAID THERE IS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR SWEEPING REFORM BUT
STILL NO WORD ON HOW FAR EACH
SIDE WOULD BE WILLING TO
COMPROMISE SOMETHING THEY CAN
GET TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK.
>>> MEANWHILE THE FAMILY OF
MANUEL ELLIS THE MAN WHO DIED
AT THE HAND OF TACOMA POLICE
ARE GETTING WHAT THEY ASKED
FOR.
FOR.
FOR. THEY
FOR. THEY WANTED THE STATE, NOT
PIERCE COUNTY DETECT LIVES TO
PROSECUTE HIS DEATH AND TODAY
THE PROSECUTOR AGREED.
KING 5'S DREW MICKELSON
EXPLAINS WHY.
EXPLAINS WHY. >> Reporter: IN THE FINAL
MOMENTS OF HIS LIFE MANUEL
ALYSSA'S FAMILY BELIEVES HE WAS
BEING RESPECTFUL TO TACOMA
POLICE AND SHOULD NOT OF BEEN
KILLED.
KILLED.
KILLED. POLICE SAY HE WAS TRYING TO
OPEN CAR DOORS IN MARCH AND
WHEN THEY STOPPED HIM HE
TACKLED ONE OF THE OFFICERS AND
HAD TO BE RESTRAINED.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED
ALYSSA'S DEATH A HOMICIDE DUE
TO LACK OF OXYGEN, DUE TO
PHYSICAL RESTRAINT.
PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. AN AUTOPSY FOUND ELLIS HAD MET
INFINITIES IN HIS SYSTEM AND
HEART DISEASE.
HEART DISEASE. PIERCE COUNTY DETECTIVES WERE
HEADING UP THE INVESTIGATION
AND WERE SET TO PRESENT THE
CASE TO THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR,
BUT WHEN SHE LEARNED PIERCE
COUNTY DEPUTY HAD BEEN ON SCENE
THAT NIGHT, SHE PASSED THE CASE
ONTO THE STATE FOR A SEPARATE
AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE.
>> I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT,
BUT I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH, THAT
IN THE APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS,
AND THE INTEGRITY OF
INDEPENDENCE, THAT MAYBE THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW,
THAT MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE
REVIEWED NOW BY THE STATE.
SINCE STATE REVIEW IS
INEVITABLE.
INEVITABLE. >> THE WHOLE CIRCUMSTANCE HAS
BEEN REMARKABLY DIFFICULT, FOR
THEM TO MOVE THROUGH.
>> Reporter: THE ATTORNEY OF
THE FAMILY, JAMES BIBLE, SAYS
THE FAMILY IS GLAD THEY GOT
WHAT THEY ASKED FOR.
>> I THINK IT MAKES SENSE ANY
TIME WHEN WE ARE IN A SPACE
WHERE THERE IS A DEATH CAUSED
BY OFFICERS, THAT THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ACTUALLY
RELIES ON ON A DAILY BASIS FOR
THERE TO BE A RECUSAL, AND FOR
THE STATE TO ACTUALLY STEP IN.
>> I'M ABSOLUTELY EXCITED THE
STATE WILL TAKE OVER.
WE WILL GET A FAIR AND
IMPARTIAL, AND INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: DESPITE THE
CHANGE, TACOMA MAYOR VICTORIA
WOODARD'S IS NOT BACKING DOWN
FROM HER STATEMENT LAST WEEK
CALLING FOR THE OFFICERS TO BE
FIRED AND CHARGED.
>> IS TOO EARLY THE SAY THE
OFFICER SHOULD BE FIRED?
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE WHOLE CASE
YET.
YET.
YET. >>
YET. >> BASE ON WHAT -- I HAVE A
CORNERS REPORT THAT SAYS IT WAS
HOMICIDE.
HOMICIDE.
HOMICIDE. >> Reporter: DREW MICKELSON,
KING 5 NEWS.
>>> AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF
PROTESTS INCLUDING SOME VIOLENT
CLASHES BETWEEN THE POLICE AND
DEMONSTRATORS ON CAPITOL HILL,
SPD REOPENED THE STREETS.
IT MEANS PEOPLE CAN -- IN
FRONT OF THE EAST PRECINCT, BUT
AS NATALIE SWABIA SHOWS US --
>> Reporter: THE PERIMETER
STRETCHES FROM 13th AVENUE AND
GOES PAST 11th AVENUE AND GOES
FROM OLIVE TO PIKE.
THE PROTESTERS WE TALKED WITH
TODAY SAY AT THIS POINT THEY
DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO LEAVE.
>> THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: HE IS ONE OF THE
PROTESTERS SPREADING THE
MESSAGE.
MESSAGE.
MESSAGE. LIVES LOST IN WASHINGTON STATE
ARE POSTED ON THE SIDE OF THE
EAST PRECINCT WHERE THE SIGN
ABOVE NOW SAYS SEATTLE'S PEOPLE
DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTMENT. ON THE CORNER THE WORDS WELCOME
TO CAPITOL HILL AUTONOMOUS
ZONE.
ZONE.
ZONE. >>
ZONE. >> WE CALL IT FREE CAPITOL HILL
FOR A REASON.
IT IS A COMMUNITY.
LIKE THAT IS WHAT I WAS
OVERWHELMINGLY HIT WITH WHEN I
CAME IN YESTERDAY MORNING TO
SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> Reporter: LAUREN SMITH WORKS
AT A NEARBY RESTAURANT.
SHE SAID AS POLICE PULLED BACK
AND PROTESTERS MOVED AND IT HAS
BEEN PEACEFUL.
BEEN PEACEFUL. >> I FEEL SAFE AGAIN, FOR
STARTERS.
STARTERS.
STARTERS. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SITE TO BE
ABLE TO COME IN AND OPEN UP MY
DOORS AS USUAL.
>> Reporter: BUT THIS HAS
CREATED OBSTACLES.
CREATED OBSTACLES. THE KIND OF AID ARE YOU TRYING
TO PROVIDE HERE?
>> IF YOU WANT TO PLAN TO PICK
UP THE GARBAGE IT WILL BECOME A
HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE.
WE NEED TO HAVE DEFINED ACCESS
ROUTES.
ROUTES.
ROUTES. >> Reporter: FIRE CHIEF HAROLD
SCOGGINS WANTS TO MAKE SURE
MEDICAL AID AND EMERGENCY
VEHICLES CAN GET IN.
YESTERDAY POLICE CHIEF CARMEN
BEST MET WITH THE PROTESTERS.
>> I THINK THE MINOR THINGS WE
DISAGREE ON THINGS LIKE
BLOCKING THE STREET.
YOU KNOW THE VERY THING THAT
PEOPLE ASKED US NOT TO DO THEY
ARE DOING.
ARE DOING. >> Reporter: TODAY SPD SAYS
THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
SAFETY, AND THEIR GOAL IS TO
REOPEN THE PRECINCT.
ACCORDING TO THE ASSISTANT
CHIEF THEY HAVE SEEN
CHECKPOINTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE
ARMED AND HAVE HEARD
ALLEGATIONS OF CITIZENS BEING
ASKED FOR ID BEFORE ENTERING.
AND BUSINESS ASKED TO MAKE A
DONATION TO BE IN THE AREA.
>> IS NOTHING AGGRESSIVE OR
VIOLENT.
VIOLENT.
VIOLENT. WE DIDN'T COME OUT HERE FOR ANY
OF THAT.
OF THAT.
OF THAT. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
COMMUNITY IS WELCOME HERE,
WHERE THEY PLAN TO STAND
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THEY
ARE HOLDING OUT FOR, HE WOULD
ONLY SAY THIS.
>> WE ARE HOPING TO SEE A
BETTER, IF NOT SYSTEM, SOCIETY
ALTOGETHER.
ALTOGETHER. >> Reporter: PROTESTERS HERE
ALSO COMING UP TO US TODAY
WANTING TO GET OUT THE MESSAGE
THAT BUSINESSES BACK HERE ARE
STILL OPEN EVEN THOUGH SO MANY
ROADS ARE BLOCKED OFF.
IN SEATTLE, NATALIE SWABY, KING
5 NEWS.
5 NEWS.
5 NEWS. >>> IF YOUR BUSINESS WAS
DAMAGED DURING THE PROTESTS
KING COUNTY WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT
IT.
IT.
IT. THEY
IT. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU
FINANCIALLY.
FINANCIALLY. A NEW WEBSITE WAS JUST SET UP
THAT ALLOWS BUSINESS OWNERS TO
RECORD PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT IS
HAPPENED SINCE MAY 25th.
YOU HAVE UNTIL JULY 17th TO
MAKE YOUR REPORT, AND WE CAN
SEND YOU A LINK ON HOW TO
REPORT DAMAGES.
REPORT DAMAGES. TEXT THE KEYWORD "DAMAGE" TO
CHRIS DANIELS -- TO 206-448-
4545.
4545.
4545. >>>
4545. >>> -- IT CAN SOUND SCARY BUT
WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS IS A
RECONSIDERATION OF OUR VALUES
AND OUR BUDGETS.
>> ENTITIES SCHOOL BOARD
MEETING DISTRICT LEADERS
DISCUSSED A RESOLUTION WHICH
WOULD SUSPEND THE DISTRICTS
PARTNERSHIP WITH POLICE FOR ONE
YEAR.
YEAR.
YEAR. IT
YEAR. IT WOULD INCLUDE REMOVING
OFFICERS FROM SCHOOLS, AND THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT USED
DISTRICT PROPERTY AS A STAGING
AREA WHILE RESPONDING TO LOCAL
PROTESTS.
PROTESTS.
PROTESTS. >>> AN UNKNOWN FUTURE FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
THE FIRST TASK FORCE MEETING IS
UNDERWAY TONIGHT TO DETERMINE
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.
>> SO AS RESTRICTIONS ARE
LIFTED THE