[1Old Pro]

It raised an understandable idea that they were withholding info to avoid further rioting because the cop screwed up

Maybe the cops didn't want to rush to judgement, like the media and protesters wrongly did.

[SgtHooper]

“Maybe the cops didn’t want to rush to judgement.”

Bingo. Only one foolish department would rush to the mic to publish “facts” without first knowing all the facts. ESPECIALLY, in that area of town, and knowing it would be a volatile situation.