Barstow Police Deny Racial Bias In Arrest Of Pregnant Mom Caught On Camera
BARSTOW (KPIX 5) - A pregnant woman says officers in Barstow forced her to the ground after she refused to give them her full name.
Police body cameras captured the whole episode, which the American Civil Liberties Union has released as a video. The ACLU says the officers demonstrated racial bias against the African American mom.
Charlena Michelle Cooks was calling her boyfriend after arguing with another parent in the January incident. Approaching officers gave her 20 seconds to comply before the altercation.
"What are you doing?...please don't touch me," Cooks can be heard saying on the tape.
Barstow police have reviewed the video. They say that the woman resisted arrest and that the incident was in no way racially motivated.
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