The Rochester Police Department is facing more investigations after bodycam footage showed the moment officers pepper-sprayed a Black mother while she holds her three-year-old daughter’s hand.
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The incident took place at a Rite Aid store on February 22 after an officer responded to a call about a theft. Footage shows the officers confronting the woman about the theft and she denies being involved in the crime. Additionally, she opens and closes her purse to prove to the officers that she didn’t steal anything. Moments later, the woman runs across the street with her child and is confronted by officers again.
“During the investigation and interaction between the officer and the female, a struggle ensued and the female was pepper sprayed and arrested. While this was taking place, her young child was on scene and with her. The child was not pepper sprayed or injured during the arrest,” the department said in a statement.
During the scuffle, officers pepper-sprayed the woman and on one occasion, one of the officers said “Stop. Oh my God, what is wrong with her?” while holding the woman’s child.
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The Police Accountability Board said in a statement that the police department needs a new infrastructure in handling certain situations:
“These disturbing incidents prove that the Rochester Police Department needs to fundamentally change its organizational culture. These incidents also affirm our community’s call to fundamentally reimagine public safety.”
As we previously reported, a nine-year-old girl was pepper-sprayed and handcuffed in the back of a police car last month. The situation caused nationwide outrage, asking for reform and better policies in Rochester.
SOURCE: USA Today