Breaking: The Only Witness Who Heard Police Announce Themselves at Breonna Taylor’s Door Changed His Story https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bv8qyd/breonna-taylor-investigation-witness-changes-story

When AG Cameron announced no charges would be brought in direct connection w Breonna Taylor’s death, he underscored the officers executing a search warrant that night did identify themselves at Taylor’s door, pointing to a witness who corroborated the officers’ version of events

But, according to audio and documents obtained by VICE News, that same witness changed his story in the months following the deadly raid

The summary of LMPD’s interactions with Sarpee also raises questions about the way in which those conversations were documented and presented as part of the department’s investigative file

At the end of the taped conversation on March 21, Sgt. Vance tells Sarpee they'll call him the next day to conduct a formal interview, but no interaction is documented until April 1, when Sgt. Seelye writes in the file she calls and texts him, but does not receive a response

Seelye later leaves a voicemail for Sarpee on May 14. On May 15, Seeyle and Sarpee speak on the phone. Seeyle makes reference to a previous conversation she had with Sarpee. But there is no record in the investigative file of them speaking before that phone conversation

During the May conversation, which spans almost 7 minutes, Sarpee shifts his account and says he heard police say “this is the cops,” corroborating the testimonies of the seven officers on scene.

“It’s been so long now,” Sarpee tells Seeyle on the call. “I recall some of it.”

Walker’s attorney, Steve Romines, told VICE News he believes the shift makes Sarpee’s account unreliable

“You cannot in good faith look at Sarpee’s interviews and try to rely on him to establish that police announced themselves,” Romines said. “He’s obviously confused over the course of his interviews.”

“It’s pretty clear to me that they’re [the police] trying to create the narrative that benefits them,” Romines, Walker’s attorney, added.

The drastic change in Sarpee’s account is notable given the AG's sole reliance on Sarpee’s testimony to corroborate the involved officers’ claims that they announced themselves prior to ramming through Taylor’s front door