RadioOnFire.com - It's becoming more and more apparent that police reform needs to be a top priority in this socio-political realm and not just for minority citizens but, for all citizens to comfortably operate and navigate throughout society and pursue prosperous lives.
This past Friday, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin the footage above was captured by a resident by the name of Tyrone Jackson in the parking lot of the Mayfair Mall. The video only records 45-seconds of the interaction between three teens, a Mayfair Mall security guard, and a Wauwatosa police officer but, Jackson who was present during the entire incident stated that the teens were being followed by mall security before the law enforcement officer showing up to the scene.
In the video, the police officer can be seen deliberately striking the minor in the face with a closed fist as the security guard holds his arm back not allowing the teen to defend himself as he was dragged to the ground by both servicemen. The police officer proceeds to put his knee in the middle of the young man's back in an attempt to arrest while striking him in the face again multiple times as the arrestee pleads for his friends to call his mother. In defense of their helpless friend, the two other teens approach the officer but quickly retreated before the video abruptly ended.
With the victim being a minor, his name has not been revealed to the public, but he was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, battery, and resisting an officer. After footage of the police officer punching the teenager surfaced and was made public, the Wauwatosa Police Chief, Barry Weber, issued the following statement,
"I can assure you that we take all situations seriously when they involve a use of force by our officers. We thoroughly review all incidents in which force is used by an officer and will do so in this incident, as well."
A local chapter of the Wisconsin Black Panther Party is urging that the police department fire the officer that assaulted the young man in the footage.
According to sources, the police were contacted because of a disorderly conduct complaint regarding the three teens but there's no excuse for a grown man to repeatedly punch a minor in the face as an officer of the law. The citizens' taxes pay for law enforcement to defuse situations but, as of late, society has been witnessing completely inexcusable methods of de-escalation and some might even consider this recent string of police brutality as domestic terrorism.
What actions do you think need to take place in order to improve relations between law enforcement and the community? Let us know in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment