MPD Addresses Facebook Video Depicting Police Punching Youth
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) --Minneapolis police have an internal investigation underway.
It comes after a video (warning: strong language) surfaced showing officers involved in an incident with a group of Black teens.
Parts of the interactions between officers and the crowd were caught on video.
It happened after a violent felony carjacking in New Hope and a pursuit that ended in north Minneapolis.
Their demands were made loud and clear -- angry at the alleged actions of police during an incident involving teenagers in north Minneapolis.
"We saw a young person brutalized and dehumanized. We saw something that we would never see in Edina," said Eli Darris.
Video shows only one part of the incident.
Witnesses say an officer took a swing and connected with a teenage boy, who was already restrained by other officers.
"And then as he laid on the ground, more punches, more brutalization and more dehumanization," Darris said.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo says an internal investigation in underway into what happened and he is limited on what he can say about the incident.
"A violent felony carjacking occurred in the city of New Hope, eventually that vehicle was picked up by Robbinsdale Police Department. It made its way into Minneapolis," said Arradondo.
The vehicle was stopped in the 3200 block of James Avenue North.
The suspect was caught by officers. What happened next is under investigation.
What we do know is a call for help was made by officers at the scene and residents in that area told them the teen they were trying to put in the squad was not involved.
"These youth were clearly not the correct youth and people repeatedly, you can see on the video, attempted to clear that up and to say, 'These are not the correct youth,'" said Michelle Gross.
This group wants the officers involved fired.
"Allow us the time to conduct an investigation," said Arradondo.
Arradondo says internal affairs began pulling reports and securing body camera video as well as other video from the incident as part of its investigation.
At this moment, he says no body camera video will be released to the public but he believes the lead inspector in north Minneapolis will make sure every concern from the community is addressed.
"They have a wonderful leader in Inspector Adams over there. He will not shy away from having tough conversations," Arradondo said.
The Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident continue to work while the internal investigation moves forward.
