Ex-Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager Indicted in Shooting Death of Walter Scott
A federal grand jury has indicted ex-North Charleston police officer Michael Slager on three counts for fatally shooting Walter Scott, an unarmed black man. Slager has been charged with "deprivation of rights under color of law" -- in essence saying Slager violated Scott's constitutionally protected civil rights by shooting him -- use of a weapon during commission of a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice. The indictment, which alleges use of excessive force, comes just over a year after Slager pulled over Scott for a broken tail light, and a subsequent encounter caught on cell phone video appeared to show Slager shooting Scott in the back, sparking outrage nationwide at a time when the use of force by police became a heated topic of debate.