Footage of a violent arrest last week that has since gone viral on social media shows a police officer brutally body slam a 17-year-old girl who was reportedly handcuffed.
The May 21 incident occurred in the parking of San Bernardino Food4Less grocery at around 2 p.m., according to Najee Ali, a spokesperson for the family who spoke at a Sunday press conference outside the San Bernardino Police Department.
Police said they were called to the area on reports of a person trespassing and someone actively trying to fight other people inside the Food4Less.
Cellphone video captured the moment the teen, standing face first against the police cruiser, was lifted off her feet and viciously slammed to the ground by the officer.
The young Black girl, a San Bernardino resident who has only been identified as Erin, suffered several injuries during the incident and required immediate medical treatment for a dislocated wrist and cuts to her chin and face that required stitches.
“He should not even have had his hands on her, but he picked up my child like she was a ragdoll and slammed her to the ground,” Erin’s father, Christopher Crowser said. “I want justice.”
In the cellphone footage, another officer standing in front of the officer who slammed the teen to the ground is seen releasing his metal baton as the person filming appears to try and get a better view of the girl while she’s on the ground.
As for the 17-year-old herself, she says the violence has traumatized her.
“Since that day, I’ve been in a lot of pain and I’m scared to go to sleep,” she explained. “If I walk outside, even just taking out the trash, I’m scared because I don’t know what’s going to happen to me.”
In a statement by San Bernardino Police Department officials, the officer had only been to handcuff one of Erin’s hands when she reportedly began to pull away and walk off, and that’s when the officer used the takedown maneuver.
Erin’s family believes the entire situation was mishandled and they are calling on State Attorney General Rob Bonta to lead a thorough investigation into the incident.
“It’s not right,” Erin’s grandmother, Michael Phillips said. “I don’t all the police. I just want that one that felt compelled to slam my granddaughter.”
An attorney representing the family told KTLA that they intend to file a lawsuit against the police department.
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