North Carolina Woman Struck by Police Officer Claims Self-Defense in Viral Video Incident

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Police in North Carolina have confirmed that an officer involved in an initial encounter with a woman, who was later seen on video getting struck 17 times by a second officer, hit her in the face but claimed the woman assaulted him first. The incident, which occurred in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, has sparked outrage and calls for an investigation into the officers’ actions.

According to a statement released by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, an ongoing investigation has revealed that the woman, identified as Christina Pierre, struck the first officer “multiple times in the face as she is resisting arrest.” The department further clarified that the officer involved in the initial encounter responded to being physically assaulted by striking Pierre in the face once. This strike occurred before the struggle on the ground, which involved several other officers.

The incident began on Monday afternoon when two officers on patrol observed two individuals smoking marijuana at a bus stop. The officers informed the individuals, Anthony Lee and Pierre, that they were under arrest. Both Lee and Pierre resisted arrest, leading to a struggle in which Pierre allegedly struck an officer multiple times. Despite the officer’s attempts to gain compliance, Pierre continued to resist arrest by lying down on her hands and ignoring verbal commands.

In an effort to subdue Pierre, an officer delivered seven knee strikes and ten closed fist strikes to her thigh, targeting the peroneal nerve. The police department stated that these strikes were intentional and consistent with training. However, the officer’s body-worn camera was knocked off during the struggle, making the initial encounter barely visible.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings addressed the media during a news conference and acknowledged the existence of a photo showing an injury to Pierre’s face. However, he claimed that there was no evidence to suggest that she was struck in the head or face while on the ground. Jennings stated that his staff is reviewing all the videos to determine the cause of Pierre’s facial injuries, which could be either a punch or an abrasion.

The police department clarified that state law allows anyone to use reasonable force to defend themselves, including officers who need to take a resisting person into custody. As the investigation continues, the department has not publicly identified the officer who initially struck Pierre, nor have they provided information about the officer’s status within the department.

While Pierre’s attorney stated that they were scheduled to view the body camera video on Friday, Chief Jennings explained that it may take months for the public to see the footage due to North Carolina law, which requires a judge’s order for its release. A hearing has been scheduled for November 30.

Both Pierre and Lee have been charged with simple possession of marijuana and resisting officers. Pierre faces an additional charge of assaulting a government official, while Lee is charged with carrying a concealed firearm. They were released on a $2,000 unsecured bond on the day of their arrest and are scheduled to appear in court on December 12.

A witness who claims to have seen the entire arrest contradicted the police department’s account, stating that she never saw Pierre hit the officer first. The witness, identified as Donna, said, “The officer balled his fist up, drew back and punched her square in the face.” Donna recounted the events leading up to the arrest, stating that the officers approached the couple sitting at the bus stop and questioned them about what they were smoking.

Donna’s description of the events aligns with Pierre’s attorney’s claim that she was the victim of excessive force. As the investigation continues, there are calls for transparency and accountability to ensure that incidents like this are thoroughly examined and appropriate actions are taken..