The shocking incident involving Boca Raton police officer Matthew McNichol and pregnant woman Nerillia Laurent has left the city in a state of fury and disbelief. The incident, which took place back in May, was captured on body camera footage and quickly went viral, showing Laurent arguing with her partner Harry Hardy. As McNichol approaches the couple, he questions her about a complaint and tells them that Boca Raton was “his city” before ordering Laurent to show her ID.
When she refused to do so, he proceeds by getting physical and grabbing Laurent out of the car and putting her to the ground as she yells, “I’m pregnant,” to which the cop says, “I don’t care.” Despite the clear evidence of excessive force, McNichol has been allowed to retire from the force — a decision which has only further fueled the anger of the community, who are demanding justice for Laurent and accountability for McNichol’s actions.
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In the video, McNichol can be seen dragging Laurent out of her car, all while she repeatedly protests that she is pregnant. The use of such excessive force against a pregnant woman raises serious questions about McNichol’s conduct and the lack of accountability within the police department.
It is particularly troubling to learn that McNichol had a history of civilian complaints and was already under investigation at the time of this incident. This raises concerns about the department’s failure to address previous misconduct and take appropriate action. The fact that McNichol was allowed to retire before the investigation was completed only adds to the sense of injustice felt by the community.
The police chief has acknowledged that the situation could have been handled differently by one of the officers involved. This acknowledgment, however, falls short of providing the justice and accountability that Laurent and the community are seeking. The Internal Affairs investigation into McNichol’s actions remains active, but there is no guarantee that it will result in meaningful consequences for his behavior.
Laurent herself has made a formal complaint and is calling for the results of the investigation to be released to the community. Her mistreatment and physical assault at the hands of the police officers in Boca Raton cannot be ignored or swept under the rug. The community deserves transparency and assurance that steps are being taken to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.
The fact that Laurent was charged with resisting an officer without violence and served one day in jail, while her boyfriend faced arrest and pled not guilty, only adds to the sense of injustice surrounding this case. It is clear that the system has failed Laurent and other victims of police brutality, further eroding trust between law enforcement and the community they are supposed to serve and protect.
sends a wrong message if she is able to make a buck on this for not complying………she was in the wrong……….yes, and I am a person of colour……not complying. blocking an intersection during a domestic dispute. having young kids in the front with no seatbelts on……….also that she was hysterical all on her won for no reason just because the officer asked her for a license.