This newspaper has been working to shed light on the details of an officer-involved shooting death last year that officals have largely kept from public view.
In February 2014, 25-year-old North Augusta Public Safety Officer Justin Craven tried to stop retired mechanic Earnest Satterwhite, 68, on suspicion of driving under the influence. Satterwhite refused to stop and led Craven and other officers on what has been described as a low-speed chase of nine miles that ended across the Edgefield County line in Satterwhite's own driveway. It was there that reports say Craven ran up to the driver's side window of the car and fired numerous shots into the vehicle, fatally wounding Satterwhite. Edgefield County Sheriff's reports say Craven yelled that Satterwhite had tried to grab his gun from inside the locked car. Despite the fact that there is dash-cam footage clearly showing all of these events in graphic detail, none of the authorities that possess the video have agreed to release it to the public - despite numerous Freedom of Information requests from multiple media organizations, including the Aiken Standard.
This week the Aiken Standard partnered with WRDW News 12 and filed a motion in Edgefield County Circuit Court requesting that we be allowed to argue against a motion filed by Craven's defense attorney demanding the video be withheld from the public until after his trial on charges of misconduct in office and discharging a firearm into a vehicle. We're taking that action because this case is important. Beyond the criminal case against Craven as an individual, the dash-cam video in question can shed light on the way the City of North Augusta carries out its duty to enforce the law and whether there are systemic problems there that contributed to this tragedy. I'll remind you, that it could also prove there are no such problems. We have to see it to know the difference.
In this case, the City admitted no wrongdoing but has already agreed to a $1.2 million payout to Satterwhite's family in a wrongful death settlement. People from around the CSRA have been largely supportive of the newspaper's attempts to have the video released, but we've also heard from a number of people who believe it is the wrong thing to do. In each of those cases, the complaint has been that releasing the video could bring racial violence and rioting, such as we've seen in Baltimore, to the peaceful streets of North Augusta. While I have yet to mention it in this article - because I don't believe it is the central issue by a mile - the officer, Craven, is white and the victim, Satterwhite, was an unarmed black man.
To those who believe exposing egregious acts of excessive force, as may be involved in this case, automatically generates violent confrontations and leave neighborhoods in flames, I would point out how differently things played out recently right here in South Carolina.
When North Charleston Officer Michael Slager fired eight shots that killed a fleeing Walter Scott in April, leaders there quickly reacted and charged the officer with murder. While there were peaceful demonstrations that blocked some traffic for a few days, there were no gangs roaming the streets bent on mayhem.
The difference in the North Augusta case is that officials have largely sheltered Craven - while he has been suspended as a police officer, he remains on the job as a City employee while awaiting trial. North Augusta, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division and the prosecutor in the case have all refused to release the video citing the need to give Craven the fairest of trials. I believe he would receive a fair trial whether the footage is released or not and I further believe it would allow the people of North Augusta to evaluate the actions of their government - which has to happen regardless of the outcome in the criminal case.
If you think releasing the video of Craven shooting and killing Satterwhite will light the fuse and blow up into a riot now, just imagine what will happen if these agencies continue to delay until after Craven has been tried and the video is inevitably released. By law, it will have to freely distributed after it is played in open court. The most major charge for which Craven could be convicted is firing into a vehicle. He could also be acquitted of that charge and walk out of court a free man. Time will tell.
To those afraid of powder kegs and riots, I'd be far more concerned about the public reaction to the images of this slaying after the trial is completed and Craven - whether found guilty or not - is shielded from any further prosecution by double jeopardy protections.
In my mind, that's the best way to gin up a riot. On the other hand, dealing with people openly, honestly and in a timely fashion is the best way to avoid one.
Tim O'Briant is the Aiken Standard editor and director of audience. He can be reached at tobriant@aikenstandard.com or 803-644-2380.