Delaware police investigated for allegedly pummeling unarmed Black teen
Police used excessive force when arresting a 16-year-old Delaware boy, also falsely accusing him of marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, his mother says
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The Delaware Attorney General is investigating a case that questions an officer’s use of excessive force while arresting an unarmed 16-year-old, Philadelphia station WPVI reports.
The teen, Roger Brown, was arrested on Friday outside his home in New Castle, Del., and cellphone video recorded the violent confrontation with two police officers, which appears to show cops manhandling the teen, repeatedly punching him with one pressing his knee in his back in an effort to subdue him.
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His mother, Mary Fleming was angered and questions the plainclothes officers excessive use of force outside her home.
“My son is trying to cover his face up while one officer is holding him down and one has his knee on his face and neck and is punching him repeatedly,” said Fleming.
Brown’s friend recorded the video, which shows officers pinning Rogers down. Roger was transported to a hospital by ambulance.
“Roger was confused. He didn’t know what was going on. The other cop ran up and grabbed him and threw him on the ground and started punching him,” Fleming said.
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The teen’s family said police rolled up because of complaints from noise coming from a dirt bike. Fleming said her son was looking at the bike, which belonged to his friend when police then told him to “Get off the bike.” When he tried, she said, police “swarmed on him.”
However, police contend that they received a complaint about drug dealing.
According to police, bags of marijuana, a scale, prescription pills and $1,000 were recovered on Brown.
“I know nothing about that,” said Fleming. “I know that definitely was not his. There is no way my son had a thousand dollars.”
The family has retained attorney Chris Johnson who says the officers used an unreasonable amount of force.
“If this officer used excessive force, which we believe he did, he needs to be held accountable and suspended and further action taken,” said Johnson.
The teen was released from jail on Monday.
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