Mo. Police Officer Hurt in Protest Still Unconscious; Sedation Being Weaned

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A Ferguson police officer injured two months ago during a protest is being weaned from sedation, his family said in an update online.

Officer Travis “TJ” Brown’s oxygen levels improved last month after a bout of pneumonia. On Friday, his family said he’s in stable condition and is under close observation as doctors wean him from sedation.

Brown has not regained consciousness since he suffered a severe brain injury Aug. 9 while on duty.

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“While his condition is stable and we are encouraged by his remarkable progress, he has not yet reached the point of being alert or able to communicate,” his family wrote in Friday’s update on the GoFundMe fundraising platform. “We are deeply grateful for the continued support, and we ask that you keep TJ in your thoughts and prayers as he continues on this challenging journey.”

They also requested that no one visit the officer in the hospital to avoid overstimulating him.

Brown was severely injured just before midnight on Aug. 9 when he fell to the ground and hit his head outside of Ferguson police headquarters during a gathering of about 40 people on the 10th anniversary of the police shooting of Michael Brown.

Protester Elijah Gantt was running away from officers who were trying to arrest him when he came around a car and hit Brown at full speed, security camera footage showed.

Gantt was arrested moments after the collision and charged in a grand jury indictment last month with three more counts of fourth-degree assault on a special victim, rioting, attempting to tamper with physical evidence and escape or attempted escape

Police also released body camera footage of the officer who arrested Gantt after pulling him off Brown after the fall. It showed angry protesters screaming and swearing at the officers and following them as they tried to haul away Gantt. Gantt is also seen fighting to get away from police, kicking one officer in the shoulder, breaking free at least once and finally walking with two officers into the Ferguson fire station.

Gantt and a few other protesters are accused of damaging a security gate outside of the police department.

Another protester, Tauren Taylor, is accused of trying to grab an officer’s gun during the protest while the cop was trying to arrest Taylor.

Both men are scheduled to appear in court later this month. They remain in jail.

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