Ferguson officer still in critical condition with brain injury after Michael Brown protest (2024)

FERGUSON — A Ferguson police officer remained in critical condition at a hospital Monday morning after suffering a severe brain injury during a protest on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death.

Officer Travis Brown is “fighting for his life,” Ferguson police Chief Troy Doyle said during a news media briefing Saturday afternoon. On Monday, he told KMOX in an interview that he visited Brown in the hospital Sunday and that he is “still in bad shape.”

Brown was shoved Friday night while trying to arrest someone for property damage outside police headquarters. He fell and hit his head on the ground.

Brown has been with the Ferguson department since January and previously was with St. Louis County police for more than 10 years, spokesperson Pat Washington said.

“He’s still fighting though, and each day he is alive, there is hope,” Washington said.

The Ethical Society of Police, an organization that represents Black officers in the city and county and advocates for equity in the departments, released a statement on Monday.

“Travis exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated and honorable police officer — he is the answer to those who ask, ‘Where are all the good police officers?’” the statement said.

Around 40 people had gathered Friday night on the 10th anniversary of the police shooting of Michael Brown, which started as a reunion in front of the Ferguson police headquarters.

Traffic was diverted to make room as they drank beer, ate food and filled the street. Many there had protested 10 years ago on the same street, South Florissant Road.

The gathering remained peaceful until around 11 p.m., Doyle said.

The chief on Saturday said that throughout Friday night, the protesters were shaking a fence outside the police station.

“We did not even react,” he said. “We stayed here and let them shake the fence.”

He said he sent an arrest team out when about five people began damaging the fence in front of the police station.

Police said when Officer Brown went to arrest 28-year-old Elijah Gantt for damaging the fence, Gantt shoved the officer with his shoulder, and Brown fell to the ground.

Gantt was charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault on a special victim, resisting arrest, first-degree assault and property damage. He remained in custody Monday on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

Dora Gantt, his mother, told the Post-Dispatch on Monday that Elijah Gantt called her from jail this weekend. He told her he was at the protest but said he couldn’t say much more on the phone.

She said her son is a youth minister who works closely with Bishop Derrick Robinson, one of the four other people also charged after Friday night’s protest.

“Yeah I was (surprised) because I know he wasn’t brought up like that — being violent — that is out his character,” Dora Gannt said of her son. “Elijah can be rowdy at times, but most of the time, he is a pretty good person.”

Two other officers suffered minor injuries during the protest, Doyle said Saturday.

Four others also were charged in connection with Friday’s protest.

St. Louis resident Emily Davis was charged with third-degree assault on a special victim and resisting or interfering with arrest.

Keith Rose of St. Louis was charged with first-degree property damage. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones appointed Rose this year to the Civilian Oversight Board, which reviews complaints against St. Louis police.

On Monday, Jones announced Rose is recusing himself from his duties on the board until his case is resolved.

Rose said he did this to “protect the institution” and its decisions on police oversight while his case moves through St. Louis County court.

“I am highly confident that the charge against me will be dropped once the prosecution reviews all of the evidence, but if not, I am prepared to defend myself against this accusation,” he said.

Prosecutors also charged Robinson, the bishop, and St. Louis resident Phillip March with first-degree property damage.