In a Friday, Dec. 29, press conference, the family of 17-year-old Ulysses Wilkerson III demanded answers after their son suffered multiple injuries from a Dec. 23 run-in with Troy, Alabama police. 

"While I'm hopeful that the State Bureau of Investigation will uncover the truth, I still call on the community to take a stand," mother Angela Williams said. "We will not settle until we know the truth behind the brutal beating of my dear son and until these police officers are held accountable for their crimes."

According to police reports, Ulysses was walking near a closed business in downtown Troy around 11:50 p.m. Saturday night. Police tried to encounter the young man but he fled on foot, authorities said. Blavity reported that Ulysses reached into his waistband, causing them to fear he was about to shoot them.

The teen's mother believes that police beat her son while he was in handcuffs. Officers followed and used physical force to apprehend the teen who suffered multiple injuries from the encounter. 

He was charged with obstructing governmental operations and resisting arrest and then transported to University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham to receive medical attention for his injuries.The reason why police engaged Ulysses has yet to be released, causing family members to believe there was foul play. 

"(The family) just wants the truth. They want everybody to remain peaceful," Alabama activist Pastor Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow said during the conference. "I repeat: Everybody remain peaceful and organized. And let's get down to the truth."

Images of Ulysses' injuries went viral when he shared them on Facebook. The teen can be seen handcuffed to a gurney in almost every photo. Family members said that he suffered trauma to the brain, swelling on the brain and a cracked eye socket in three different places from police.  

Pike County Commissioner Charlie Harris said the teen "didn't have to take this beating like this." Harris said there were several other options available to officers before escalating to the level of violence alleged in Wilkerson's case, according to Al.com. 

"You have your stun gun, you have your mace and all of this," he said.

Ulysses' father said that the charges against his son have been dropped, he told CNN affiliate WDHN. Pike County District Attorney Tom Anderson said there is video of the incident and one officer didn't have a body camera turned on. However, it isn't clear how many officers were involved.

Troy Police Chief Randall Barr has requested that the SBI investigate his officers' use of force.