Native political leaders and activists in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are demanding solutions and accountability after movies surfaced exhibiting two separate, however brutal and aggressive arrests of a Black man and girl.
The arrests of Devlon Pridgen and Morgan Daniels reportedly occurred on Dec. 29 and Dec. 31, respectively.
Footage of Pridgen’s arrest obtained by WPXI exhibits a number of officers pinning him to the bottom whereas a girl recording the video screams that he’s unarmed and “not resisting.” One officer seems to be punching Pridgen whereas he’s on the bottom.
The Pittsburgh NAACP and the Black Political Empowerment Undertaking despatched a joint letter to metropolis leaders, stating that the footage “presents an interplay that seems to be considerably extra extreme and aggressive than essential.”
Images taken after the arrest present a wounded Pridgeon with a bruised cheek and bloodied chin.
“Why was such a degree of drive employed, particularly given that there have been already a number of officers current on the scene?” the NAACP’s and B-Pep’s letter learn.
Authorities by no means charged Pridgen with any crimes, and it’s unclear presently what prompted his arrest or the drive used within the police encounter.
A metropolis Public Security spokesperson informed Atlanta Black Star concerning the encounter, stating that the division is “conscious of a use of drive incident” and that “any accusation of improper conduct is taken critically, and might be totally investigated.”
William Anderson, chairman of the Allegheny Democratic Black Caucus, can be demanding transparency concerning the arrest.
“He’s damage bodily, emotionally, he’s a father of eight. He known as me crying. … He was simply overwhelmed,” Anderson stated of Pridgen.
Practically per week after Pridgen’s arrest, Anderson posted two movies exhibiting the arrests and detainments of a number of Black individuals, together with Morgan Daniels, at a Pittsburgh-area dwelling on Dec. 31.
One video exhibits a number of officers detaining a number of individuals at one time as the lady recording the footage shouts on the cops to “please calm down!” whereas promising that nobody was going to harm them in an obvious try to de-escalate a chaotic scenario.
Seconds later, a feminine officer and a Black girl are seen rolling down a set of stairs because the cop tries to wrestle the lady into submission. The cop can be seen hanging the lady earlier than a male officer drags her over a set of cinderblocks and down the sidewalk.
The girl behind the digital camera urges the officers to “let her settle down,” including that “she’s not beneath the appropriate affect,” after the lady makes an attempt to kick the feminine cop.
A second video that seemed to be taken by a neighbor exhibits the arrests from a special angle. Within the recording, an officer is seen trying to take one other Black girl into custody. As she journeys and falls to the bottom, the officer falls together with her, pins her to the bottom utilizing his knee, and detains her.
In each movies, viewers can hear each the cops and the detained people screaming and shouting.
One of many girls who was taken into custody after that police encounter was Morgan Daniels, who was later charged after the incident.
Circumstances main as much as Daniels’ arrest and the way the occasions within the movies unfolded are additionally unclear. Pittsburgh Public Security stated that three individuals, together with Daniels, had been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and public drunkenness.
“The Allegheny County Democratic Black Caucus is outraged that the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Police select to cost Morgan Daniels after brutally assaulting her in an try to justify their continued acts of Police Brutality towards our African American Residents and members,” Anderson wrote in a press release. “We demand any and all fees filed towards Ms. Daniels be instantly dropped. And her listening to scheduled for January thirteenth cancelled.”
The caucus group acknowledged they plan to carry a press convention later to debate Pridgen’s and Daniels’ arrests and demand justice and accountability.
