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North Carolina Police Officer Strikes Black Woman During Arrest, Sparking Outrage

Introduction

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A video circulating on social media has caused uproar as it shows a North Carolina police officer repeatedly striking a Black woman during an arrest while several other officers hold her down. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department claims that the officer’s strikes were intentional to gain compliance, but Police Chief Johnny Jennings acknowledged the public’s outrage during a news conference on Wednesday.

The Incident

The incident occurred on Monday when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers approached a man and a woman who were smoking marijuana at a bus stop. As the officers attempted to arrest the man, the woman interfered, leading to a struggle. According to Lt. Kevin Pietrus, the woman hit an officer multiple times. In response, another officer struck the woman several times in an attempt to gain compliance, in line with his training.

Police stated, “After several repeated verbal commands, an officer struck the female subject seven times with knee strikes and 10 closed fist strikes to the peroneal nerve in the thigh to try to gain compliance. The officer was intentional about where the strikes were made.”

A bystander’s video posted online shows four officers kneeling and holding the woman down while a fifth officer repeatedly strikes her with a closed fist. Bystanders can be heard shouting at the officers to stop. After a few seconds, the officers stand up and lead the woman to a squad SUV with her arms behind her back.

Police Chief’s Response

During the news conference, Police Chief Johnny Jennings expressed his understanding of the public’s outrage. He acknowledged that the video depicting an officer punching a female suspect was distressing. Jennings, who has 32 years of policing experience, stated, “I can tell you that I’ve never been involved in using force that has looked pretty and has looked good to the public. So these are difficult situations. And all I ask is we continue to let this investigation internally play out.”

Internal and External Investigations

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s internal affairs bureau is currently investigating the incident. Chief Jennings also speculated that other agencies might conduct their own investigations. The officer involved in the incident, identified as Vincent Pistone, has been temporarily reassigned from the patrol division to investigations. The department spokesperson mentioned that they do not release information about officers’ races.

The Woman’s Charges and Bodycam Footage

According to the police, the woman, identified as a 24-year-old Black woman from Charlotte, was charged with assault on a government official, resisting officers, and marijuana possession. However, neither the video nor two other videos shot from a different angle show the beginning of the encounter between the police and those they arrested.

Chief Jennings mentioned that the body camera of the officer who was hit by the woman fell off during the struggle. He emphasized that the public has the right to see the bodycam footage and believes it will be released. However, North Carolina law requires a court order to release such video, which could take a couple of months. The department has already petitioned the court to allow the release.

Response from Bojangles

The man and woman involved in the incident were confirmed to be employees of the Bojangles restaurant chain near the arrest scene. Bojangles expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating that the employees had already finished their shifts and were off the property when approached by the police. The company plans to fully cooperate with any investigation.

Chief’s Reflection and Questions

Chief Jennings admitted during the news conference that the “optics are bad” and acknowledged that the incident should not have happened. He questioned whether the officers should have initiated arrests for marijuana use, even if they had the authority to do so. He also raised concerns about the woman interfering with the man’s arrest and striking the officers. Chief Jennings emphasized that none of these actions should have taken place.

Reporting by Brumfield from Silver Spring, Maryland.

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