Feds Launch Civil Rights Investigation into Williams’ Death

The FBI and the Justice Department will conduct a civil rights investigation in the Derek Williams case in Milwaukee.Williams died while in police custody in July, 2011.WPR’s Chuck Quirmbach says the investigation comes as a result of a request by some Milwaukee alderpersons, as well as what the FBI termed community concerns that they are pursuing “in the interests of justice.”

Chuck also tells us that U.S. Attorney James Santelle says his office continues to gather information on a possible broader civil rights probe into the police department, but any decision on whether go go ahead with that could depend on the outcome of the investigation into Williams’ death.

Click “Listen” to hear Chuck Quirmbach discuss today’s announcement with Kristen Durst.