The senior officer opened a notebook and asked Daniel to begin from the moment he first noticed Eleanor and Bennett. Daniel described the officer blocking her path, her attempts to explain that she wanted to leave, and the way Bennett's voice grew louder. He explained how he had approached, how Bennett had ordered him away, and how the situation had changed when Olivia arrived.
He then described the moment Bennett grabbed his jacket and raised his hand.
DANIEL CARTER: "I remember thinking that if I reacted physically, the situation might become even worse. I was trying to get him to release me without striking him."
SENIOR OFFICER: "Did you threaten him at any point?"
DANIEL CARTER: "No. I told him to let go of my jacket. I didn't threaten to hurt him."
SENIOR OFFICER: "Did you make contact with him before he grabbed you?"
DANIEL CARTER: "No. I did not touch him before he seized my jacket."
The senior officer wrote down the answers and asked Daniel whether he had any injuries. Daniel said that his shoulder felt sore but that he did not believe he needed immediate medical assistance. The senior officer advised him to report any worsening discomfort and made a note of the condition of his jacket.
SENIOR OFFICER: "Thank you. Please remain available until we have completed the initial statements. If you need to leave for any reason, tell Sergeant Reed first so we can record your contact details."
DANIEL CARTER: "I understand."
The senior officer moved back toward Olivia, leaving Daniel standing near the bench. The formal process had begun, but many questions remained unanswered. The witnesses had provided preliminary accounts, the recording still needed to be secured, and Bennett had yet to give a complete statement.
Beside the patrol car, Bennett watched the senior officer reviewing the notes. He appeared to realize that the incident was no longer a disagreement that could be dismissed with a few words. The presence of several officers, the statements from witnesses, and the possibility of recorded evidence meant that his actions would have to be examined in detail.
OFFICER MARCUS BENNETT: "Sir, may I explain what happened from my perspective?"
The senior officer looked up from the notebook.
SENIOR OFFICER: "You will have the opportunity to provide your account. I need you to wait until I am ready to take it."
OFFICER MARCUS BENNETT: "But they're making statements about me right now."
SENIOR OFFICER: "The witnesses are being asked what they observed. You will be given the appropriate opportunity to respond."
OFFICER MARCUS BENNETT: "I just want to make sure the truth is heard."
SENIOR OFFICER: "Then cooperate with the process and allow the facts to be established."
Bennett fell silent again. He looked toward Daniel, who was standing beside Eleanor's bench, and then toward the courthouse entrance. His face showed a mixture of frustration and apprehension. He had entered the afternoon expecting to control the flow of people around the courthouse. Now he was the subject of a formal inquiry into an incident that several witnesses had seen.
Olivia returned to the senior officer with an update from the medical worker. Eleanor's arm appeared to have no obvious serious injury, although she remained shaken and would be advised to seek further care if the pain worsened. Olivia also confirmed that the security officer had kept the entrance clear and that the crowd was beginning to disperse.
SERGEANT OLIVIA REED: "The immediate area is stable. Ms. Brooks has been examined, and Mr. Carter is available to provide any further information."
SENIOR OFFICER: "Good. We will now make sure the witness accounts and any available recording are handled correctly."
SERGEANT OLIVIA REED: "There is one more thing. Several witnesses mentioned the beginning of the confrontation, before Mr. Carter arrived. They say Officer Bennett was blocking Ms. Brooks' path and speaking aggressively to her."
SENIOR OFFICER: "Those accounts will need to be recorded separately. We must establish what happened from the beginning, not just the moment the physical confrontation occurred."
Olivia nodded. She looked toward Eleanor, who was now sitting more comfortably, and then toward the patrol car. The scene was quieter than before, but the tension had not disappeared. Everyone involved understood that the next stage would depend on the details of the statements and the evidence collected at the courthouse.
The senior officer closed his notebook and turned toward Bennett.
SENIOR OFFICER: "Officer Bennett, we are going to move to the next stage of this process. You need to remain calm and follow every instruction given to you."
Bennett straightened beside the vehicle. His eyes moved from the senior officer to Olivia and then toward the witnesses gathered near the bench.
OFFICER MARCUS BENNETT: "Yes, sir."
SENIOR OFFICER: "Good. Then we will proceed one step at a time."