Rev. Buster Soaries says he wants to use every available option to seek justice
FRANKLIN -- The Rev. DeForest "Buster" Soaries is calling for the United States Department of Justice to conduct an investigation into the fatal police shooting of a township man last April, according to a news release on Monday.
Soaries, the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens and a civil rights activist, made the request in response to a report released earlier in the day by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office that cleared the police officer who shot and killed Diahlo Grant of any wrongdoing.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, Soaries wrote, "I have no reason to question the integrity of the Middlesex Prosecutor (Andrew C. Carey) or his investigation of this case. However, pursuant to our desire to establish irrefutable answers to questions yet outstanding, I am hereby requesting that the United States Department of Justice conduct an official investigation of this case."
Matthew Reilly, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney, said his office hasn't yet received the letter "but at such time we'll take a look at it and make a determination."
The prosecutor's office report determined that Diahlo, who was wanted on a warrant for a previous shooting in the township and was recognized by the officers, fired at the officers first and his death from return fire was justified.
Grant, 27, was killed on April 9 when he encountered two uniformed Franklin Township police officers at Somerset and Home streets and exchanged gunfire at 1:30 a.m., the report said. Grant fired one shot at the officers and was killed when one of the officers fired six shots at him, striking him multiple times, the report said.
A black revolver with a brown grip was recovered next to Grant's body and the weapon was subsequently identified as the same one involved in the shooting of a man on Feb. 15, the report said.
Grant's family has said they don't believe he had a gun. They staged a protest march with Black Lives Matter in downtown New Brunswick on July 21 that attracted more than 200 marchers. They've also threatened a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit.
Camille O'Sullivan, Grant's sister, didn't return a phone call or text seeking comment.
Prosecutor clears officer in fatal shooting
Soaries said he would like the reasons for the initial stop further investigated.
"As you are well aware, police stops and searches have long been the focus of civil rights advocates and law enforcement officials concerned with fairness and the respect of civil liberties," he wrote.
"Even when law enforcement uncovers legitimate criminal behavior, rampant civil rights violations are discovered. The question of the initial 'stop' by the officers and all following events demand detailed review from a civil rights perspective."
Soaries is also questioning the thoroughness of the prosecutor's Office investigation.
"Unfortunately, there are too many instances where investigations such as these have been tainted by racial bias within the investigatory process itself," he wrote. "We want our community to be satisfied that this investigation is free of such bias and behavior."
Soaries wrote that he and the Franklin Township community have always had a good relationship with police and he's not trying to "impugn the integrity of our friends in law enforcement community nor is it based on an assumption of the innocence or guilt of anyone."
Rather, Soaries wrote he's motivated by "using every option available to seek justice" and "protect the rights of all citizens."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.