A former San Francisco Bay Space police officer was charged with assault for utilizing extreme pressure on an unarmed Black man he arrested final July throughout a site visitors cease over a lacking license plate.
Matthew Nutt was fired from his job in April of this yr for violating a number of of the Antioch Police Division’s use of pressure insurance policies after police officers investigated his half in a site visitors cease on July 1, 2022. Now, he’s dealing with a prison misdemeanor assault cost for his actions at that cease.
Antioch Police just lately launched physique digital camera footage of the incident.
It reveals Nutt stopping a driver for not having any license plates on his automobile. After approaching the automobile on the passenger aspect, he speaks to the particular person within the entrance passenger seat, who authorities recognized as Terry Robinson. Robinson explains that he and the motive force have been heading to the DMV and Nutt asks for the motive force and Robinson’s identification.
After reviewing their IDs, Nutt found that Robinson had a felony warrant out for his arrest. Nutt approaches the automobile once more, opens the passenger door, and asks Robinson to step out and maintain his fingers up, then cuffs him. One other officer can also be current on the scene.
Nutt walks Robinson to his police automobile and explains that Robinson is needed for the warrant. Robinson stops in the course of the stroll to attempt to clarify himself. Robinson nervously tells Nutt that he can’t sit behind the automobile, and says he’s beginning to have a panic assault.
The moments that ensue subsequent present the encounter escalating dramatically.
Nutt forces Robinson towards the aspect of his police automobile and one other officer approaches. Each officers pressure Robinson to the bottom.
Throughout these moments, Robinson repeats himself a number of instances, persevering with to insist that he’s having a panic assault, to which one officer responds by saying, “Get within the automobile,” and “Cease resisting.”
Each Nutt and the opposite officer with him inform Robinson to cease resisting after they pressure Robinson to the bottom. Robinson yells in response, “I’m not resisting! All proper, I’m gonna get within the automobile!”
The opposite officer with Nutt is heard saying, “What’s your downside man?”
Robinson repeats himself once more, saying, “I’m having a panic assault. I be having panic assaults, bro.”
At that time, Nutt tells Robinson, “Rise up and get within the f—ing automobile or I’m gonna carry you down once more. The best way I took you down now, I’ll take you down once more and tougher. Rise up and get within the f—ing automobile.”
As Robinson and the opposite officer assist Robinson up and escort him to the automobile once more, they direct him to sit down on the again seat. Robinson is seen sitting however standing up once more, showing to battle to sit down down totally.
Throughout your complete incident, Robinson’s pants and underwear are down, and his buttocks are utterly uncovered.
At that second, Nutt tells Robinson, “Sit down, or you’re going in your f—ing face. Do you perceive me? Sit down!” The opposite officer yells, telling Robinson, “Get within the f—ing automobile!”
Robinson complies with the officers’ calls for, however simply as he’s sitting down, he urgently tells officers once more that he’s having a panic assault, and Nutt begins to kick and knee him repeatedly.
“I would like medical!” Robinson screams a number of instances on the officers, however they don’t verbally reply. Footage reveals them simply making an attempt to pressure Robinson into the automobile. At one level Nutt additionally will get within the again seat of the patrol automobile on the alternative of Robinson earlier than threatening to make use of his Taser on the person.
The officers maintain yelling at Robinson to get within the automobile, and Robinson complies and tries to place himself to sit down within the automobile. Nutt then begins hitting Robinson whereas Robinson is yelling, “I’m getting in!” a number of instances. Nutt additionally knees and elbows Robinson a number of instances.
As soon as Robinson is seated within the automobile, he requests medical assist once more, saying, “I would like medical!” Nutt goes to the opposite aspect of the squad automobile and drags Robinson additional into the automobile, then slams the automobile door. Afterward, Nutt approaches the automobile he stopped and begins swearing and yelling on the driver to get out. The motive force complies, Nutt cuffs him, after which he begins looking the automobile.
After an inside investigation, police officers decided that Nutt breached the Antioch Police Division’s insurance policies, together with utilizing unreasonable pressure, failing to de-escalate, and failing to make use of “different ways.”
Antioch police chief Steven Ford launched this assertion following the conclusion of the investigation:
“Cops are entrusted with the authority to make use of affordable pressure to guard the general public and themselves within the lawful efficiency of their duties,” Ford stated within the announcement. “This requires shut supervision and analysis to take care of public legitimacy and protect the sanctity of human life.”
“The Antioch Police Division is dedicated to accountability and full transparency – my hope is our group will see the actions of our personnel to analyze and produce this matter to my consideration as an expression of their dedication to accountability and the core tenants of their oath. This unlucky incident is just not reflective of the men and women who serve our group – please be a part of me in persevering with to supply our help of their exhausting work.”
Authorities haven’t launched particulars about if some other officers who have been current face disciplinary motion or if Robinson and the motive force have been charged with any crimes.
The Contra Costa County District Lawyer introduced prices towards Nutt, and he’ll be arraigned on July 18. Nutt labored for the division for 4 years. He additionally served with the Los Angeles Police Division for 2 years previous to his service in Antioch.
The Antioch police pressure has been the focal point inside its group and throughout the nation lately as information continues to come back to mild on incidents the place its officers have used extreme pressure.
Most just lately, the division got here beneath fireplace for a disturbing textual content scandal the place 17 of its officers have been exchanging a number of racist, sexist, homophobic and violent texts in quite a lot of textual content chains. In among the messages, officers used the phrases “monkey” and “gorilla” to explain Black individuals.
Nutt reportedly acquired a few of these texts, nevertheless it’s reported that he by no means responded to any of them. The division now faces a federal lawsuit relating to allegations of quite a lot of civil rights violations.
