Girlfriend reacts to man's federal indictment after deputy-involved shooting

555 The family of a 42-year-old East St. Louis man who was shot by a St. Clair County Sheriff's Department deputy early Saturday is upset that he's been federally indicted on a drug and weapons charge. Demetrius O. Ward was shot early Saturday during an attempted traffic stop at 18th Street and Ridge Avenue in East St. Louis. A cell phone video recorded the interaction and shows Ward attempting to pick something up from the ground and run before being shot at by a deputy several times. The identity of the deputy involved has not been released. ISP officials said it is the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department's responsibility to release that information. St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson said Monday the name should come from ISP. Ward has been federally indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance. He was in custody at a hospital. Ward's girlfriend, Erika Scruggs, told the BND she is upset with the grand jury indictment. She said she's asked police several times why Ward was being pulled over, where her car is and other issues. She said they have provided no answers. Ward was driving Scruggs' car when the shooting occurred. "By law, I have a right to ask about my vehicle. It's registered to me. They should've told me that my car was involved in a high-speed car chase - if there was a high-speed chase," Scruggs said.

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