In a move that sounds like it would provide answers to at least some questions, the Las Vegas Police Dept. released video from the night Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett was arrested. Though the footage illustrates the situation in question, answers are still hard to come by. Bennett was arrested after a reported shooting in Las Vegas on August 27th, following the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor boxing match.
Via their Facebook page, the Las Vegas Review-Journal posted a near-25-minute long video of Sheriff Joseph Lombardo’s press conference in which he walks the audience through edited segments of surveillance camera footage and police body cam video.
The Las Vegas Sun also published a seven-minute video on their YouTube channel of the incident that picks up after Michael Bennett’s arrest:
Michael Bennett Arrest Video has Something for All Sides
It’s unlikely the footage will change anybody’s mind on the matter. While still pretty fascinating, the video released does not show much of anything that would be of consequence to the case. Apparently, none of the officers directly involved with the arrest were wearing active body cameras, so all the footage is from a more indirect point of view.
1. The cops who arrested Michael Bennett and pulled a gun on him DID NOT HAVE ON BODY CAMERAS.
Bystanders did film the arrest.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) September 29, 2017
During the presentation, Sheriff Lombardo repeatedly stops the tape to point out discrepancies between Bennett’s allegations and the police’s version of events. If one were so inclined, there are enough circumstantial segments in the video that could lead one to believe Bennett is indeed in the wrong.
@Seahawks Bench Michael Bennett now! #MAGA
— John T Boyd (@jtboyd1) September 18, 2017
On the other hand, only so much can be made of the presentation and footage. The fundamental fact that this released video was edited, spliced and pieced together by the police should make everyone view it with a skeptical eye. What’s not shown in the footage is way more important now than what is in it.
Mike McCready supporting Michael Bennett while playing the national anthem pic.twitter.com/KTuxvxQoEr
— David Rees (@Reesman33) September 18, 2017
In regards to what the video does present, here’s how this can work: People who take the police at their word can point out that the footage does show Michael Bennett sneaking behind a row of slot machines, then run out of the building while others walk about more calmly. That, in many people’s minds, would constitute suspicious behavior and reason enough for law enforcement to question Bennett. Those on Michael Bennett’s side, however, can note that once Bennett is placed in cuffs and in the back of a police car, Bennett repeatedly asks why he’s being detained and is told by an officer to stop talking because “[the police] were dealing with an active shooter.” This heavily implies that police knew Bennett was not the shooter, so why the arrest?
(In the video released by the Review-Journal, this portion starts at about the 10:30 mark.)
Although it’s beside the point, the video begins with Sheriff Lombardo explaining that there was no shooter in the incident. Two separate fights in the club broke out at the same time, causing big stanchions to fall. The sound of the metal hitting the floor as they fell produced a gunshot sound, causing the ensuing scene.
Despite the new evidence, it doesn’t appear as though the cloud of uncertainty surrounding this case will lift to provide more clarity anytime soon.
For the Seahawks, Bennett has 2.5 sacks, seven tackles, and a pass defended this season while starting all three games thus far. Seattle takes on the Indianapolis Colts later tonight (October 1st) on Sunday Night Football. Bennett is fully expected to start.
