The Baltimore Police Department is investigating after a video surfaced of an 18-year-old being dragged from his home and arrested by an officer and lieutenant. Tionne Jones rightfully requested a warrant just before he was shoved to the ground and handcuffed outside.
Police spokesperson T.J. Smith tells The Baltimore Sun the BPD’s “executive team met to discuss this issue and the circumstances surrounding the arrest” and it was determined Jones’ disorderly conduct charges “were not appropriate in this situation.” The department is continuing an internal investigation of the unidentified lieutenant and officer.
State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby has been made aware of the BPD’s assessment. On Monday, a spokesperson from the office, Rochelle Ritchie, said in a statement that after “a careful review of the incident,” prosecutors agreed with police “that it was not appropriate to bring charges in this matter.”
The investigation began after Smith says the office got calls regarding issues with a Greenmount West neighborhood home. Concerns about “possible drug activity” and complaints of “large numbers of people entering and exiting throughout the day and night” were among the issues. No drug charges have been filed.
Once the lieutenant showed up on the scene on April 16, Smith says the cop “observed a person knocking on a door and then a window and then trying to get into the home through the window.” He then, “approached the home in an attempt to speak with the leaseholder.” That portion was caught on video by one of the residents, 18-year-old Antonio McLaurin, who is Jones’ cousin.
“During the lieutenant’s attempt to gather more information and confirm that the individual had legal access to the residence, he called for additional officers to respond to the scene,” Smith said in a statement. That was when the officer showed up and, along with the lieutenant, forcibly removed Jones from his home when he wouldn’t allow them to enter.
Jones’ mother, India Epps, told local TV affiliate WBFF the police are to blame for the issues.
“To see these men that have sworn to protect and serve our community, they’ve actually been the biggest problem.”
McLaurin agreed, telling the TV station that police are “supposed to help. They’re the ones hurting us, killing us.”