But the most important moment of the interview came later.
Dana asked, "Did your FBI badge protect you?"
Marcus thought about it.
"Eventually."
"Eventually?"
"The badge changed his behavior."
"Yes."
"But?"
Marcus leaned back.
"The badge shouldn't have been necessary."
The internal investigation took seven weeks.
Captain Moreno interviewed Keller three times.
Sergeant Grant twice.
Elaine Porter once.
Dispatchers.
Neighbors.
Marcus, accompanied by Rebecca.
Keller maintained he had responded appropriately to a suspicious person call.
"I didn't know who he was."
Moreno answered, "That's true of nearly everyone officers initially meet."
"He refused identification."
"Before that, what crime did you suspect?"
"Possible burglary."
"What facts supported burglary?"
"He was at the door."
"With keys."
"Burglars can have keys."
"Anything else?"
Keller hesitated.
"The caller felt he didn't belong."
"Is not belonging a crime?"
"No."
"Was the door damaged?"
"No."
"Windows?"
"No."
"Alarm?"
"No."
"Forced entry?"
"No."
"Tools?"
"No."
"Did he attempt to flee?"
"No."
"Did he provide an explanation?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"That he lived there."
"What did you do to investigate that explanation?"
Keller became frustrated.
"I asked him for ID."
Moreno waited.
Then asked, "Anything independent of requiring him to prove it?"
Keller had no answer.
Elaine Porter's interview was shorter and more painful.
Captain Moreno asked whether she knew Marcus.
"I'd seen him."
"How many times?"
"I don't know."
"Had you spoken?"
"A few."
"Did you know a Black man lived at 418 Hawthorne?"
Elaine became defensive.
"I don't think of people that way."
"Did you know Mr. Bennett lived there?"
"I knew someone named Bennett."
"Had you seen Marcus Bennett previously?"
"Probably."
"Then why did you call?"
Elaine's eyes filled with tears.
"I thought he looked suspicious."
"What was he doing?"
"Going between the car and house."
"Anything else?"
"No."
"Would carrying grocery bags change your interpretation?"
Elaine looked down.
"I suppose."
"Did you see bags?"
"I don't remember."
The security camera did.
High definition.
Marcus carrying groceries.
Two trips.
Keys falling.
Marcus searching for them.
Nothing else.
A second neighbor, Thomas Weaver, provided perhaps the simplest statement.
Moreno asked, "Did you see anything unusual that evening?"
Thomas shook his head.
"No."
"You didn't notice police?"
"Oh, later. Yeah."
"Before police arrived?"
"No."
"Did you see Marcus?"
"Marcus?"
"Mr. Bennett."
"Sure. He came home."
"You noticed?"