A video recently went viral of a San Diego officer body-slamming a 17-year-old black girl to the ground on the premises of Helix High School.
The incident occurred Friday, Jan. 19 after the young girl was suspended for carrying pepper spray. She informed school officials it was for her protection. One of the family members said the teen felt she was being discriminated against and reportedly was disinclined to leave the school campus.
Officers were called to escort the student off school grounds, but her arrest quickly turned violent.
In the video, the officer pins the girl on the ground with his upper body for several seconds as the unidentified teen lays motionless. He then slams her onto the concrete.
The student suffered “minor abrasions” according to La Mesa police Chief Walt Vasquez, who supports the officer’s side of the story. “As they were walking, the student became non-compliant on two separate occasions and made an attempt to free herself by pulling away from the officer. To prevent the student from escaping, the officer forced the student to the ground”, Vasquez stated.
Aeiramique Blake, the person who posted the video on Facebook told the San Diego Union-Tribune, “No matter what was done or not done, that was not the appropriate way to handle a young lady. The community is completely outraged.”
Social media also reacted to the gut-wrenching video.
A teenager.
She was treated like a criminal by teachers before she even did anything wrong, and was assaulted by a cop because he viewed her Blackness as a threat. Our skin color is not an excuse for you to abuse us, and this cop needs to be fired. https://t.co/vofqOQbFLj
— Rashad Robinson (@rashadrobinson) January 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/iheartwestbrook/status/955290902448295936
Am I alone in believing WE should NOT live in fear toward those entrusted to "serve & protect" us? Abuse of power ought to have consequence.
— iamwillproject (@iamwillproject) January 22, 2018
The officer is currently under investigation.
