One day after authorities announced there would be no charges filed in the shooting death of George Temple, there are high level meetings and talk of further investigation. Temple is the Baton Rouge businessman shot to death, reportedly by a bystander, as Temple and a Baton Rouge police officer tangled during a traffic stop last Friday.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff LeDuff and Col. Greg Phares of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department said very little Wednesday afternoon after meeting with the district attorney.
"We're not really in a position to say anything because we are still conducting our investigation," said LeDuff.
The investigation has so far cleared police officer Brian Harrison and bystander Perry Stevens. It was determined that Stevens fired the fatal shot, killing Temple. The NAACP has called for action, but District Attorney Doug Moreau says that does not change policy in the D.A.'s office.
"Everybody wants to form opinions before they know anything about what happened," said Moreau. "We don't want to be part of that group. What we're going to do is our job, the way we do in all the other cases, and that's to evaluate what the facts are."
9 News has also uncovered more information on the background of George Temple. He was scheduled to be in district court judge Bonnie Jackson's courtroom next Monday at 9:00 a.m. to review a previous criminal case. Temple pleaded guilty in November to one count of simple battery and simple criminal damage to property for which he received a year of probation and ordered to therapy with a local psychologist.
9 News asked for a copy of Perry Stevens' application for a concealed weapon permit from State Police. All that authorities would provide is his name, address and date of birth. The rest of the information on the application is not public record.
Also, Baton Rouge Police cancelled a dedication ceremony Wednesday to fallen officer Terry Melancon, who was killed in the line of duty last August. Chief LeDuff says the ceremony will eventually happen, but that Wednesday just turned out not to be a good day.
Meanwhile, the NAACP is calling for action against what they are calling more police brutality. The NAACP says it is time for the Baton Rouge Police Department to change its ways. The organization places a lot of blame of Friday's shooting on the police department's policies and training. The group is angered that businessman George Temple ended up dead after being pulled over by a Baton Rouge police officer.
The NAACP wants to bring in the Justice Department for an independent investigation. Kwame Asante, president of the NAACP's local chapter, said Wednesday, "We have questions about the officers perceptions, even before the officer felt like his life was in danger."
The groups also wants Mayor Holden to form a special review board to look at cases like these involving police and sheriff's departments.
Reporters: Jim Shannon and Greg Meriwether