Man appointed to St. Louis City Civilian Oversight Board accused of damaging fence outside Ferguson Police Department

FERGUSON, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Elijah Gantt, first charged with the assault on Ferguson Officer Travis Brown after protests turned violent Friday, is now facing a new charge for allegedly kicking another officer in the head.

Gantt is from East St. Louis and has served time in the Illinois Department of Corrections for what was initially charged as robbery and battery back in 2015 in St. Clair County.

Meanwhile, two other names notable in the protest community also face charges.

Police and prosecutors said Keith Rose committed felony property damage by pushing and kicking the fencing gate to the department. His attorney, however, wrote: “There are pictures that show Mr. Rose was not involved in damaging the fence. We are confused as to why he has been charged.”

Rose had previously filed a lawsuit against St. Louis police for protests in the wake of the acquittal of Officer Jason Stockley. Last year, he settled it for $40,000.

More recently, Rose was appointed by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones to the St. Louis City Civilian Oversight Board, which investigates claims against the police. In a statement, her office said he had voluntarily recused himself from all board activity and noted that only the Board of Aldermen can vote him off. In a letter, three aldermen, Bret Narayan, Thomas Oldenburg and Laura Keys, are asking that he be removed.

Board President Megan Green sent First Alert 4 a statement that read: “My office is monitoring the situation and believes in due process. I’ll add that I agree with Keith’s decision to recuse himself while this process moves forward.”

Rose was also set to be an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but on Wednesday, the Missouri Democratic Party announced he had withdrawn:

“The Missouri Democratic Party condemns the violence that critically injured Officer Travis Brown and we send our thoughts and well wishes to Officer Brown and his family. While the right to engage in peaceful assembly is fundamental to our democracy, violence is never acceptable. Keith Rose has decided to voluntarily withdraw as an uncommitted alternate delegate to the DNC. The Missouri Democratic Party is taking appropriate action according to Party rules in replacing Mr. Rose with another uncommitted alternate from the area. We are looking forward to representing Missouri in Chicago with our diverse pool of over 70 delegates next week. We wish Officer Brown a speedy recovery.”

Another frontline protestor, Bishop Derrick Robinson, was also charged. According to police, he was among those allegedly shaking the fence. He did not return First Alert 4′s Investigates call for comment.

In addition to others previously charged, First Alert 4 Investigates also learned Tuesday that a woman, Angelique Kidd, is now charged with pushing an officer.

During a press conference on Tuesday, officials also mentioned another person who reached for an officer’s weapon, but that case is reportedly now under seal, so we have little information about it.

First Alert 4 Investigates will bring you any developments as we get them.

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