Indianapolis police say they’re reviewing their officers’ actions throughout a visitors cease after a disturbing video that caught widespread consideration on-line reveals a police officer pulling over a Black teenager, then threatening to kill him.
Trevion Taylor, 17, was driving away from an anti-ICE protest close to a highschool on Feb. 6, proper earlier than he was stopped by police, based on the Indianapolis Star.
Taylor begins recording himself after he’s pulled over, and the cellphone footage reveals the interplay between him and the officer.
Officer: “We’re gonna get you out right here. So if you get out, I’m gonna pull you out, I would like you to place your arms on prime of the automotive, OK?”
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Taylor: “Why am I getting out for?”
Officer: “The automotive smells like weed. Step out of the automotive.”
As different officers encompass Trevion’s automotive, his pals within the again seat go searching in confusion on the police presence. Trevion additionally appears round, visibly perplexed by the scene.
The officer talking to Trevion is seen opening the driving force’s door, pulling Trevion out by his wrist, and threatening him earlier than patting him down. He claims that the teenager driver was reaching for a gun, however the footage doesn’t present Trevion with a weapon.
Officer: “I’ll f—ing kill you. Do you perceive me?”
Taylor: “Yo, what? You gonna kill me if I-“
Officer: “You’re f—ing reaching for a gun, that’s why.”
Indianapolis Police’s Response to Viral Visitors Cease
In a police report, officers mentioned they pulled Trevion over after he didn’t sign throughout a lane change.
Nevertheless, the cellphone footage doesn’t present the officer even mentioning the visitors violation to the teenager. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Division later mentioned in a press release that the explanation for the visitors cease was to verify for unlawful possession of a weapon.
The company acknowledged that its officers had been monitoring the protest after receiving reviews that doubtlessly armed college students had been current.
Police say they started tailing Trevion’s automotive after allegedly seeing somebody get into the automobile with a gun.
Indiana legislation dictates that any individual below the age of 18 is prohibited from carrying a loaded firearm until they’re searching, have grownup supervision, or are on non-public property with permission to hold. Minors who violate this legislation may be charged with a misdemeanor.
There have been two passengers in Trevion’s automotive, each 16 and 17 years previous.
Police mentioned they positioned a loaded firearm contained in the automobile and charged one of many teenagers with harmful possession of a firearm.
Though the officer who pulled Trevion over mentioned he smelled marijuana coming from the automotive, authorities didn’t say whether or not they discovered any unlawful substances within the automotive, and no associated costs had been introduced.
The police division admitted that “a number of the language heard doesn’t replicate the requirements or values of the IMPD,” and that they’re conducting an inner evaluate of the visitors cease, which can embrace trying over bodycam footage.
Rick Snyder, the president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, additionally launched a press release in regards to the cease, which included a response to considerations in regards to the threats the officer made towards the teenager.
“Science clearly proves blunt language (together with curse phrases) is a traditional reactionary response in conditions the place the life of individuals concerned are in peril,” Snyder mentioned. “Whereas blunt, the officers verbal warnings and rapid actions prevented the matter from escalating.”
Teen’s Household Denounces Conduct of Officer at Visitors Cease
Trevion’s mom, Ambar Taylor, launched a press release to WTHR quickly after sharing the cellphone video of the encounter, condemning the police conduct and clarifying that her son is just not going through costs after the incident:
“I’m conscious of the general public assertion launched by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Division concerning the now-viral visitors cease video involving my son.
To be clear: the person recognized and arrested for firearm possession was not my son. Any implication—direct or oblique—that my little one was the juvenile arrested for harmful possession of a firearm is inaccurate and deeply regarding. My son didn’t violate the legislation, and he was not the individual taken into custody. Nonetheless, he was subjected to aggressive, threatening, and terrifying language by an IMPD officer, together with the assertion, “I’ll f****** kill you. Do you perceive me?”
No matter IMPD’s characterization of surrounding circumstances, no state of affairs justifies threatening a toddler with loss of life. The language captured on video is just not a matter of context—it’s a matter of conduct. The risk alone displays a harmful abuse of authority and a failure to uphold the requirements anticipated of legislation enforcement.
Whereas IMPD has acknowledged that the language used doesn’t replicate its values, acknowledgment with out accountability is inadequate. We proceed to name for the rapid launch of all body-worn digicam footage associated to this incident and decisive disciplinary motion, together with termination of the officer concerned.
My household is targeted on defending our son’s well-being and navigating this matter privately. We respectfully ask for private house and privateness as we deal with this example collectively as a household, alongside my husband.
