Copyright 2006 The Omaha World-Herald Company
The man wounded by an off-duty officer faces two counts of first-degree felony assault.
By LYNN SAFRANEK and KEVIN COLE
Omaha World-Herald
OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren disputed allegations made by an Omaha attorney and two witnesses that a police officer was abusive toward a west African refugee and unjustified in shooting him.
Officer David Brumagen began shooting as a car driven by Koko Sessou approached, as evidenced by shooting damage to the car’s radiator, Warren said Friday.
Sessou’s attorney, James Martin Davis, has said his client told him that Brumagen jumped in front of his car, causing him to swerve. The officer then jumped up on an island in the parking lot and continued firing.
Warren also said no evidence points to a language barrier playing a factor in the weekend shooting.
Sessou, 22, was released from jail Thursday after paying 10 percent of his $25,000 bail, or $2,500.
Davis said Sessou appeared Thursday before a Douglas County judge. Sessou was charged with two counts of first-degree felony assault, including one against a police officer.
Sessou, whom Davis described as a political refugee from Togo who came to the United States two years ago, was shot in the left side and the back of his left shoulder.
Davis said two bullets remain lodged in Sessou’s body, including one between the heart and a lung.
The Metro Community College student is accused of driving toward Brumagen at high speed shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday outside Eli’s Bar and Grille at 11009 Elm St.
Brumagen and a female partner were trying to clear the parking lot at Rockbrook Village shopping center after Eli’s closed.
Two witnesses that Davis presented at a Wednesday press conference said the off-duty officers were not in Omaha police uniforms but were wearing black T-shirts with “Security” printed in white.
Warren said Friday that the account is not accurate. Both officers, who had police permission to work at Rockbrook, were wearing their full police uniforms, he said.
According to police, the off-duty officers repeatedly asked Sessou and another man to leave the parking lot after Eli’s closed. When they continued to refuse, Brumagen asked the men to get out of the car, according to Eli’s owner.
Sessou’s passenger obeyed Brumagen’s request to leave the car, Warren said. However, Sessou uttered profanities, locked his car door and rolled up his window, Warren said.
According to police, Sessou sped away and made a U-turn. Two witnesses reported Sessou speeding toward the officers and swerving, coming within feet of hitting them, police said.
Davis said Sessou, who works two jobs and has no criminal history, was in the lot to give two friends a ride and became confused by the officers who “were shouting at him and banging on his car.”
In a press conference Wednesday, Davis produced three witnesses who disputed police statements about the incident.
Two of the witnesses, Kristina Allee and Dominique Brown, contacted Davis to tell their version of the events outside the bar. They said they had no prior relationship with Sessou.
Warren said police have “numerous witnesses” who gave consistent accounts of what happened outside Eli’s. The only witnesses who heard the officers swear were the witnesses at Davis’ press conference, Warren said.
Meanwhile, Aaron Hanson, the police union president, urged the public to reserve judgment.
“Whether it’s James Martin Davis or Aaron Hanson, president of the police union, the only people who know the facts of this case are going to be the investigators that have collected the physical evidence,” he said.