Department of Public Safety reviewing use of force during Downtown incident
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Pittsburgh Public Safety has launched an investigation into the use of force during an incident in Downtown Pittsburgh on Friday.
The incident in question occurred on Smithfield Street at Strawberry Way involving a man, now identified as Jashon Martin, being arrested by officers.
According to police, officers witnessed Martin get into a fight with another man. He returned to the area hours later, appearing to have a weapon and engaging in several drug deals, police said.
When officers tried to arrest Martin, they said he resisted, refusing police instructions and trying to grab at a waistband. Martin faces several charges, including aggravated assault.
"The Department of Public Safety is aware of a use of force encounter that occurred during an arrest on the evening of August 25, 2023, on Smithfield Street at Strawberry Way Downtown," the department said in a press release Saturday.
"The Gainey Administration, the Department of Public Safety, and City Council are taking this encounter and the considerable community concern it has generated, extremely seriously and are reviewing all available video footage and gathering as much information as possible pertaining to the incident.
As part of this process, Public Safety will commission an independent Use of Force Review to ensure that Pittsburgh Police are adhering to current policy, national best practices and that the Bureau's academy and in-service training continues to reflect its' commitment to serving our communities in a safe, fair, and equitable manner."
Additionally, the NAACP issued a statement Saturday, saying the organization condemns the use of such tactics during the arrest.
