April 27 — After Steve Perkins’ widow was handcuffed and three others were arrested during a peaceful protest at last week’s 3rd Friday event, civil rights attorney Lee Merritt wrote Thursday a letter requesting a meeting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama and called for an investigation into the Decatur Police Department.
“It looks like a department gone completely rogue,” Merritt said Friday. “And so, we’re asking the Department of Justice and the North Alabama Civil Rights Division to come take a look at it.”
In his letter to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona, Merritt asked him to meet with Perkins’ widow, Catrela Perkins, as soon as possible.
“The Decatur Police Department is engaged in a pattern of civil and criminal abuses that require immediate intervention,” he wrote.
Reiterating his claims made in a civil lawsuit against DPD last year on behalf of Perkins’ estate, Merritt wrote that “Decatur’s policies and procedures “promote the use of excessive and unconstitutional force against citizens “.
The letter also claims that the events of 3rd Friday marked a “sharp escalation by officers who have agitated the community since (Mac) Marquette’s criminal indictment.”
The former Marquette officer, accused of shooting and killing Steve Perkins on September 29, was indicted on murder charges by a Morgan County grand jury on January 5.
On Friday, the Decatur Police Department referred questions to Mayor Tab Bowling, who said the city was aware of Merritt’s comments.
“The DPD is looking into the events of last Friday,” he said. “As a city, we are constantly seeking to ensure that everything we do meets the highest standards. Law enforcement tasks are extremely difficult and we want to be sure that we are doing everything we can for them. help do their jobs and keep our community safe. We are exploring available resources to help us do this.
Bowling declined to comment on the possibility of a DOJ investigation.
After reviewing video recordings, police complaints and social media, Merritt said officers such as Lt. Joe Renshaw made public statements showing support for Marquette after his indictment.
An Instagram account appearing to belong to Renshaw includes a photo of him standing next to Marquette, captioned: “For those wondering where I stand? I’m representing my brother.”
“The people of Decatur, as expressed by the grand jury composed of citizens of Decatur, have determined that there is probable cause that Marquette committed a crime – the most serious crime in our jurisprudence, which is murder “Merritt said Friday. “The DPD claims this did not happen.”
Merritt’s office was involved in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man murdered in 2020 while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. Former District Attorney Jackie Johnson was charged with interfering in the investigation into Arbery’s murder. Merritt said the case is an “important analogy” to what’s happening in Decatur.
“What we found is that she…
