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OF FRENCHMAN AND CHARTERS STREET , A POPULAR SPOT FOR BOTH TOURISTS AND MUSICIANS YOU CAN SEE SOME ARTISTS IN FRONT OF THE BOOKSTORE. THAT’S WHERE THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. BUT THE SCENE LOOKED A LOT MORE INTENSE. IT HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED NOPD RELEASED THE DASH AND BODY CAMERA VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT INVOLVING BRASS BAND TRUMPET PLAYER EUGENE GRANT AND TWO OFFICERS. THEY WERE RESPONDING TO A DISTURBANCE CALL FROM THE BOOKSTORE. OFFICERS ARRIVED ON SCENE AROU 9:22 P.M. THE BAND AND PEOPLE QUICKLY DISPERSE. AT 9:29, THE OFFICERS ARE BACK ON THE SCENE. THE MUSICIANS RETURNING TO THE SAME SPOT. THAT’S WHEN POLICE ATTEMPTED TO BREAK UP THE CROWD. THE MALE OFFICER ON SCENE APPROACHES EUGENE GRANT, RAISING HIS HAND UP WHILE WALKING NEAR HIM. YOU CAN SEE HIS REACTING BY RAISING THE TRUMPET TOWARD THE OFFICER, TELLING HIM TO MOVE AWAY. THERE IS A SCUFFLE BETWEEN GRANT AND THE OFFICER. THE CROWD AROUND HIM GETS BIGGER, PEOPLE PULLING OUT THEIR CELL PHONES. USE THE OFFICERS PULLING OUT TASERS. THE CHIEF SAID IT WAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND THE CROWD, BUT NO TASER WAS DISCHARGED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. EUGENE IS LATER SEEN WITH ANOTHER OFFICER GETTING INTO THE UNIT. HE WAS LATER RELEASED AND ALL CHARGES DROPPED. LOCAL MUSICIANS ARE UPSET. >> I KNOW EVERYONE ON THE STREET WAS ENRAGED. THEY ARE A BRASS BAND, JUST PLAYING MUSIC. SHERMAN: THEY ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR EUGENE IN AN UPCOMING RALLY. SHE SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE ORDINANCES PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. >> COMING TO AN AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THINGS LIKE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN. MUSICIANS DON’T NEED TO BE GOING TO JAIL FOR PLAYING MUSIC IN THE STREETS. SHERMAN: THIS CAME IN IN THE LAST HOUR FROM COUNCILWOMAN KRISTEN PALMER. "MY OFFICE IS PROACTIVELY DEVELOPING A LAND OF MEDIATION TO MOVE FORWARD COLLABORATIVELY, WHICH WILL INVOLVE SEVERAL MEETINGS NEXT WEEK OF ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS TO DISCUSS GUIDELINES AND CREATING BALANCE AND RESPECT FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED." WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THAT AND THE RALLY PLANNED THIS

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The New Orleans Police Department has released body camera footage from an incident involving musicians on Frenchmen Street a few weeks ago. A musician was arrested on Frenchmen Street after striking a New Orleans police officer, damaging his body-worn camera, according to the New Orleans Police Department.The incident happened at the intersection of Frenchmen and Chartres streets, according to police. NOPD said a group of brass band members were asked to move from the street to the sidewalk so that traffic wasn't blocked.That is when police say Eugene Grant struck an officer with his instrument.Police say Grant refused to calm down and that the officers were forced to detain him until backup arrived.Grant was arrested for obstructing public passages and resisting an officer.The charges have since been dropped, and a rally supporting Grant has been scheduled for the weekend. NOPD released the following statement regarding the footage being released:"The NOPD, under the leadership of Superintendent Shaun Ferguson remains committed to moving our City forward—together. "A portion of a recent encounter between NOPD officers and a member of a local brass band was shared on social media. "From the beginning, the NOPD’s account of the events, has not changed. On the evening of July 8, 2019 around 9:30 p.m., 8th District officers responded to a disturbance call at the intersection of Frenchmen & Chartres streets where a brass band was playing."In a first attempt, responding officers used lights and sirens to move a crowd that had gathered around the band in the street, impeding the flow of traffic. After moving for a short time, the band and crowd returned to the same location, which was also blocking the entrance to a business in the area. "At that time, officers exited the vehicle in a second attempt to request the band and crowd to again move from the street. During the exchange, one of the members, Eugene Grant struck the officer with his instrument, damaging the body-worn camera. "Officers, according to training, detained Grant until other units arrived. Contrary to social media reports and members in the community, Grant was never tazed, or injured. Grant was later released from custody and all charges were dropped. "At the time of the encounter, which unfolded quickly, officers, who were surrounded by a large group of people, were not aware of any condition or disability Grant may have been diagnosed with. "Soon after the incident, Chief Ferguson and NOPD leadership were reaching out to Mr. Grant and his family, as well as, the other band members in an effort to open a dialogue. "Those very positive conversations have laid the groundwork for future dialogue between the NOPD and our community’s talented musicians. “We hope these recent exchanges will provide a way forward in NOPD’s relationship with music and culture leaders based on a mutual understanding that while NOPD will always celebrate our city’s musical heritage, we will also continue to respond accordingly to calls for service received and complaints made by our residents, visitors and business owners.” NOPD stressed that the incident is not under investigation and that it has met with Grant and his mother, along with others involved to expand the ongoing dialogue. The family of Grant issued the following statement: "We would like to thank the NOPD for releasing the body camera footage of the arrest of Eugene Grant so that the public can see exactly what occurred on the night of July 8th."What is clear from the video is that what occurred on Frenchmen Street that night was terrifying for all those who witnessed it, horrifying for the crowd, the responding NOPD officers, and, most of all, terrifying for Eugene, who is disabled and autistic. What is clear from the video is that, as a community, we are lucky that the situation was not more catastrophic and that we all need to work together to ensure that it does not reoccur."Ultimately, what Eugene wants is to play music and to be safe while doing it. We must have serious conversations about community policing, the use of force in responding to nonviolent calls, as well as how the NOPD is trained to respond to those with disabilities. We need to have dialogue about the peaceful coexistence of business owners and musicians on Frenchmen Street."We are happy to report that conversations about positive changes are already in place. We want to thank Chief Ferguson, Chief Westbrook, Councilwoman Palmer, Mayor Cantrell, and the countless members of the music community, who have all reached out to Eugene and his family following this incident, and we encourage collaboration and dialogue into the future that includes the musicians with a seat at the table during these discussions. With constructive efforts, we are confident that we can all move forward together positively."Thank you again for your support, and we hope to see you on Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m. atWashington Artillery Park for a rally in a show of support for our musicians in New Orleans.Eugene invites you to come and asks for you to peacefully demonstrate your love for our local musicians."A viral video of the incident was shared on social media. WARNING: Video contains strong language. View at your own discretion.To view the video, click here.