Darren Wilson Secretly Meeting with Network Anchors

Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who shot and killed unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9, has been in talks with various TV network anchors for an exclusive interview. Wilson, who is under grand jury investigation for shooting Brown, has been in hiding since the shooting.

According to The Washington Post, Wilson has been meeting with a number of well-known TV news anchors secretly in order to negotiate doing an interview.

Other Washington Post coverage of Wilson has described his absence in the past three months as “an extraordinary disappearing act.” His absence has also impacted a number of pending felony cases that are before the St. Louis County prosecutors’ office in which he was supposed to testify.

That disappearing act could end soon, though. CNN has reported that those Darren Wilson has been meeting with for a possible interview include NBC News‘ Matt Lauer, ABC News‘ George Stephanopoulos, CBS News‘ Scott Pelley, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon.

CNN’s Brian Stelter, who reported the meetings, described it as “a big booking contest” and said that others may have also met with Wilson.

The news anchors have met with Wilson in secret locations, for off the record talks in the hopes of landing an exclusive interview. Darren’s shooting of Michael Brown has galvanized a national campaign against police brutality and racism, and has spurred months of protests in Ferguson, where many are calling for his arrest.

The grand jury is weighing whether or not to indict him and has been meeting and deliberating for weeks.

The secret meetings between Darren Wilson and the news anchors can’t be commented on by the networks.

“Because it was off the record, those anchors can’t talk about the meetings and the networks can’t even confirm that they happened,” Stelter said.

Wilson has pulled an incredibly successful disappearing act following the outcry over his shooting of Brown. Locally in the St. Louis and Ferguson areas, there are rumors of his whereabouts that range from North Dakota to Arizona and everywhere in between. His girlfriend, who lives outside of Ferguson, has even been threatened by people who want revenge.

According to the Washington Post, Wilson is believed to be in police protection. His brick house is empty and the blinds are drawn as the yard goes untended. Although Darren Wilson is on paid leave, there are widespread rumors that he is now in negotiations to resign from the Ferguson Police Department, regardless of the outcome of the grand jury’s decision.

Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson has openly said that Darren Wilson probably won’t return to his job, but hasn’t noted the conditions or timing.

[Image courtesy of thewire.com]