Police union chief says he had to counter Jamar Clark shooting witnesses

Police federation president Bob Kroll
Minneapolis Federation of Police president Bob Kroll in St. Paul, Minn., on Dec. 16, 2015.
Regina McCombs | MPR News

The head of the Minneapolis police union said he released police accounts of the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark last month because he believes they show the officers were justified in their actions.

Union president Lt. Bob Kroll said he felt it was necessary to counter eyewitnesses who said Clark was handcuffed and not resisting when he was shot in the head by police.

"Many chiefs across the nation, until their officers are proven otherwise, they come out with a statement like that. In that case it didn't happen and that's why I did that for the officers," he said.

Kroll said he still believes other evidence should be withheld during the investigation.

Protesters are calling for the release of videos from the scene of the shooting.