Bodycam video exhibits cops ordering a police canine to assault an unarmed man in Sheffield, Alabama, on June 17, 2021, in entrance of his house, in accordance with his lawyer.
The video was launched on Might 4 and exhibits a number of Sheffield Police Division Officers and Colbert County Sheriff’s Workplace deputies speaking to 53-year-old Marvin Lengthy as he stood on the entrance porch of his home.
Why the officers wished to arrest Lengthy is unclear, however the encounter started with Lengthy standing on the street in entrance of his home observing one other arrest, WAFF studies. The complete video has not been launched.
Associated: ‘We Perceive Considerations’: Alabama Police Division Investigating Video of Officer Stomping on Younger Black Man’s Leg Throughout Arrest
A second bodycam exhibits the officers following Lengthy to his porch sooner or later after he’d been on the street watching the arrest. Lengthy is heard telling the cops, “Go, man,” as they approached the home saying, “Is that this your property?”
After Lengthy opened the entrance door to go inside, a number of of the officers grabbed Lengthy and wrestled him to the bottom. One of many officers yelled, “You assume we’re f—n’ silly?” The officers gave the impression to be looking Lengthy as he yelled, “Assist! Assist!”
The K9 is seen biting Lengthy’s leg as one of many officers yelled, “Chunk him! Chunk him!”
He was arrested and charged with obstruction and resisting arrest. The obstruction cost was later dropped. Lengthy is being represented by attorneys Roderick Van Daniel and Harry Daniels, who mentioned the police had no proper to sic the K9 on Lengthy.
“It is a crime towards humanity,” Daniels instructed WAFF Information. “That is one thing that ought to by no means occur anyplace.”
Daniels additionally famous that the cops appeared to get pleasure from letting the K9 assault Lengthy.
“These gang of officers didn’t have the fitting to even stroll onto Mr. Lengthy’s property, a lot much less assault him with a police canine,” Daniels mentioned in a press release. “The video is evident. These males aren’t defending the general public or imposing the legislation. They’re attacking an unarmed Black man for no cause, they usually’re having fun with it.”
Van Daniel mentioned that the arrest was illegal as a result of the officers didn’t have possible trigger or a warrant.
“How will you cost a person with Resisting Arrest when there wasn’t a lawful arrest within the first place?” Van Daniel added within the assertion. “For 2 years, they’ve achieved all the pieces they’ll to maintain this video from popping out. Now it’s out, and the folks can see the reality with their very own eyes.”
Lt. Max Dotson and Sgt. Nick Risner have been two of the arresting officers.
Risner later died whereas on responsibility in an October 2021 shootout with a homicide suspect. Dotson additionally was shot within the incident however survived. Dotson was arrested in March for threatening and assaulting a person with a gun whereas he was off-duty and charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, third-degree assault and harassment.
Daniels famous that Risner would nonetheless be alive had he been faraway from the pressure after Lengthy’s arrest.
“This was sadistic in all measures of the phrase,” Daniels mentioned. “There was nothing good out of this and people officers to be allowed to stay on the pressure. That’s… principally saying we condone these officers.”
Daniels mentioned the video was being launched now in an try to hunt justice.
“This isn’t a matter of searching for some financial damages. That is about searching for justice and making certain that you just [won’t] be the subsequent person who’s attacked or probably killed by legislation enforcement,” mentioned Daniels. “If we don’t band collectively and assist each other when our constitutional rights have been violated and we don’t test those that are accountable for defending this earth then no one’s rights will probably be protected.”
Lengthy’s trial on the resisting arrest cost begins on June 6.
