Advocates urge release of May 7 edited video shown to family in Isaiah Kirby case

Kath Edel presented a formal FOIA appeal during public comment asking the city to release an edited May 7 video that, she said, was prepared for public consumption and shown to family members, attorneys and others. Edel said the East Lansing Police Department initially showed the edited video to multiple non-law-enforcement people and later denied public release on grounds of privacy and potential interference with an investigation.

Edel said the department’s later public release of raw bodycam footage and other officer camera footage made the denial “incomprehensible” and urged immediate reversal of the denial. “The public has a right to view the video and compare it with the narrated video Chief Jennifer Brown and the ELPD created and released on May 14th,” Edel said.

Acting city manager John Newman and council received the appeal during public comment; the council did not announce a reversal or immediate release at the June 2 meeting. Council discussion later moved to closed session under the Michigan Open Meetings Act for attorney-client privileged consultation, and the council returned to continue the city manager’s leave and to authorize the mayor and city attorneys to proceed as discussed in closed session.

The appeal cites FOIA principles and the fact that Edel said the edited video had been shown to family members and counsel; the transcript records Edel handing the appeal to the mayor and the acting city manager. The council did not provide a timetable on the public record for responding to the appeal at the meeting.

Next steps: the public appeal was placed in the hands of city staff and the acting city manager; advocates asked residents to press the council for prompt release.