Body cam video shows example of CPD “targeting” family, woman says

A newly posted video of Columbia police body camera show a scene of what one woman calls continued “harassment” by the department against her family.

The group Citizens for Justice posted two videos from CPD body cameras that capture a scene from March 7, 2015 on Aztec Boulevard in northeast Columbia. In it, Sergeant Roger Schlude exits the passenger side of the patrol vehicle with his gun drawn, pointing it at one person near the car.

“Why don’t you get your hand out of your pocket,” he asks, “and walk on?”

He later identifies the teenager as CJ Stock, a nickname used by him and others for Cee’zan Stock, now 19 years old. As Stock records the confrontation on his phone, Sgt. Schlude reaches for his body camera again, after Stock asks why he’s “harassing” them.

“This is Mr. Stock, he carries a gun the last time I arrested him up on Stadium [Boulevard]. He’ll probably be in court, I hope. He’s a good citizen, and he’s got some good friends.”

The scene goes on for more than four minutes, with Stock’s friends trading barbs and insults with the two officers. One of the teens makes reference to officers shot in New York City, while one of the Columbia officers questions why Stock would want to fight him, including the officer’s comment that he would “mop the floor” with him if they did fight.

Stock’s mother, Andrea Brookins, told ABC 17 News it’s one moment in four years of “harassment” by the Columbia Police Department. She said her son is an aspiring rapper, and one of his songs makes degrading references to CPD. One video features he and others brandishing guns, which Brookins said are either toy guns or borrowed for the purpose of a music video.

“It’s absurd,” Brookins told ABC 17 News. “They don’t need to work with anybody in the community.”

Columbia police said they would not comment on the specific incident.

Brookins and Stock have also pushed back against the notion the teen has any “gang” ties in Columbia. Police and prosecutors often cite an affiliation with the “Eastside” gang, as written in a 2015 probable cause statement by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. County prosecutors wrote in a bond recommendation that “CPD advises that [Stock] has been involved in multiple shootings as part of the Eastside Gang.” Brookins said “Eastside” is a reference to Stock’s music label, originating from the side of town he and his family have lived on in their time in Columbia, and not a violent gang.

Dale Roberts, executive director of the Columbia Police Officers Association, said he thought the officers’ actions were justified. If Sgt. Schlude knew Stock had a gun in previous encounters, he only had a few seconds to decide whether or not to reach for his gun. Roberts said while it may seem “strange” to some, officers sometimes use a level of force that “freezes” the situation to stop others from escalating any further.

“It’s easy for all of us, in cool, calm reflection, not being on the spot, to look back at what someone else has done and second guess whether it was appropriate or not,” Roberts said.

Stock has never been convicted of a felony, but has two misdemeanor charges out of Boone County. One is a guilty plea to a 2015 harassment of a minor charge, and another jury conviction for misdemeanor resisting arrest. He is currently in the Boone County Jail for a receiving stolen property charge, and is held on a $100,000 cash only bond. Brookins said the high bond amount is keeping him in jail with three people accused of shooting she and her son in late April. Stock told police he would “take care of it himself,” which they assumed to mean he would retaliate. Brookins questioned how he could retaliate against the three if he was out of jail, and they were still locked up.

Stock’s attorney, Kevin O’Brien, has unsuccessfully argued a bond reduction three times.

ABC 17 News obtained a letter Stock wrote the judge in his case, Jeff Harris, about a bond reduction. He called police’s characterization of his comments as a matter of “opinion” and so far, unproven.

“The law states I’m innocent until proven guilty within a court of law,” Stock wrote on July 19. “It seems I am being found guilty until proven innocent.” He will next be in court on September 9.