N Carolina senator: Judge will release video if mayor won't

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A top North Carolina legislator is warning that a judge likely will force Charlotte's mayor to release all videos chronicling an officer's fatal shooting of a black man last week unless she makes them public before a new law takes effect Saturday.

Republican Senate leader Phil Berger wrote Mayor Jennifer Roberts on Friday about Keith Lamont Scott, whose death by a black Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer led to violent street protests last week. The State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the shooting.

The police chief has released some footage. Civil rights groups want the rest of it released.

Starting Saturday, requests for police body and dash camera video are decided on by judges. But Berger says the city still can still release the footage voluntarily Friday and Roberts should do so.

The mayor's spokesman didn't immediately respond to an email and text seeking comment.