A San Diego police officer was caught on viral video slamming a Black girl to the ground.
On Friday, a 17-year-old Helix High School student was suspended for carrying pepper spray, which she claims was for her personal protection. When officers were called in to escort her off campus, that’s when things took a turn for the worse. Her parents have said that the girl felt discriminated against and didn’t want to leave campus, according to the Atlanta Black Star.
In the shocking footage, an officer can be seen pinning the girl to the ground. The teenager lies motionless under the weight of the officer only to then be body slammed into the hard concrete.
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La Mesa police Chief Walt Vasquez claims that the student was trying to resist, which led to the officer’s decision to slam her down.
“As they were walking, the student became non-compliant on two separate occasions and made an attempt to free herself by pulling away from the officer. To prevent the student from escaping, the officer forced the student to the ground”, Vasquez stated.
Vasquez explained that the girl suffered “minor abrasions” from the incident. The officer is currently under investigation while his actions are being reviewed.
“That was not the appropriate way to handle a young lady”
But many disagree with that assessment, claiming that there is no reason for the harsh treatment this teen girl received.
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“No matter what was done or not done, that was not the appropriate way to handle a young lady. The community is completely outraged,” said Aeiramique Blake to the San Diego Union-Tribune. She posted the viral video to Facebook.
Here’s a look at the video of the incident and the social media reaction (using #JusticeforBri) blasting the officer’s actions and the manner in which the situation escalated.
Slamming a handcuffed 17 year old girl to the ground and then laying on top of her is not what police officers should be doing…@LaMesaPD#INNERCIRCLE
— ☠ SHRED ☠ (@1SHRED) January 22, 2018
She was already in handcuffs so how could she really escape ? And if he can’t restrain a 17 year old girl as a grown man without slamming her to the ground then he needs better training period.
— Leah Blake (@makaveleah) January 22, 2018
Couple inches away from having her skull cracked open on the pavement. Very irrational n reckless behavior. Another tough guy cop who is probably a complete loser in his personal life, assaulting a handcuffed minor. Shut down the police, we don’t pay taxes for this #JusticeForBri https://t.co/hCNZu0ZJ69
— Ashur deKelaita 777 (@melka_ashur) January 23, 2018