Justice Dept.: Ferguson case was mishandled

Justice Department officials Thursday criticized local authorities’ investigation of the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., saying the case has been handled in a “selective” and “inappropriate” manner.

The criticism comes after the official St. Louis County autopsy of Michael Brown, 18, who was shot by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, was leaked to media Wednesday.

The autopsy report, obtained by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and published on its website, suggested Brown sustained a gunshot wound to the hand from close range and came as a grand jury considered whether Wilson should face charges.

“The department considers the selective release of information in this investigation to be irresponsible and highly troubling,” Justice Department spokeswoman Dena Iverson said.

“Since the release of the convenience store footage, there seems to be an inappropriate effort to influence public opinion about this case,” Iverson added, referring to the Ferguson police department’s release of video shortly after the shooting that showed a robbery at a convenience store.

Attorney General Eric Holder expressed frustration with local officials investigating the incident as the Justice Department also conducts a federal investigation, according to a department official. In a meeting with Justice Department lawyers on Wednesday, Holder said he is “exasperated” by the “selective flow of information coming out of Missouri,” the official said.