November 16th 2023.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has recently addressed a disturbing video circulating on social media of a Black woman being beaten and held down by North Carolina police officers. During a press conference on November 15th, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings spoke to reporters about the Instagram video which shows a white CMD officer repeatedly punching a woman while four other officers restrain her.
Chief Jennings expressed his understanding of the public’s outrage, saying, “I get it. I understand the emotions that come when you look at a video that involves an officer who is punching a female who we’re trying to make the arrest and subdue. I understand that.” He further stated that the video was “hard to watch,” showing his own distress at the incident.
The incident in question happened near South Tryon Street and West Arrowood Road after 2 p.m. on November 13th and involved Anthony Lee, 37, and Christina Pierre, 24, both employees of Bojangles who had clocked out for the day. According to CMPD’s statement released on November 14th, the subjects were caught smoking marijuana and the woman was struck in the thigh several times as she resisted arrest. She took seven strikes to the knee by an officer and 10 closed fist strikes to her peroneal nerve. The male was arrested and found carrying a 9mm handgun.
Chief Jennings is currently working to release bodycam footage as the officer claimed it fell off during the skirmish. Meanwhile, an Internal Affairs investigation is underway and Lee and Pierre have been charged with simple possession of marijuana and resisting an officer. Lee was also charged with carrying a concealed firearm and Pierre with assault on a government official.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is taking this incident seriously and is actively working to ensure that similar events do not occur. As Chief Jennings said, “I never want to see an officer, much less one of my own, involved in a situation like this.”
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