Two officers in Rock Hill, South Carolina, have been placed on administrative leave while the community demands justice for Ricky and Travis Price, two siblings who were punched and shoved by police as they were being arrested on Wednesday.
A Facebook Live video shot by a woman at the scene showed an officer punching Ricky in the face as police were struggling to arrest the brothers. Officers also pushed Travis against a large tank during the scuffle, WCNC reported.
"The use of force that we see in the video is a perfect example of why African Americans today in certain parts of America are afraid of police," Justin Bamberg, an attorney for the brothers, told CNN. "There's no justification for doing that to anybody."
Rock Hill police said officers were conducting surveillance on Ricky on Wednesday afternoon when they pulled him over for an illegal turn and lane change. According to police, Ricky pulled into a gas station at that point and called his brother, Travis, who later arrived at the scene.
Officers said they then searched Ricky's car and found two bags of marijuana hidden in the driver's door panel, as well as a 9mm pistol in the back seat of the car. A bag of crack cocaine was also allegedly found in the vehicle.
While Ricky was being put in handcuffs, police said Travis tried to reach for belongings that were being removed from the car and "used his body to bump the officers backward."
The Facebook video shows Travis falling to the ground with the officers as a scuffle broke out. Police said Ricky also punched an officer in the face while trying to flee.
The woman who shot the video can be heard saying Ricky was tased. Police, however, said officers didn't deploy any weapons or use Tasers on either brother.
Ricky, who was denied bond after being arrested, is facing charges of intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, carrying a pistol unlawfully, unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent offense and resisting arrest.
According to WCNC, a fire was ignited outside the Rock Hill Police Department on Wednesday as protesters gathered to demand justice for the siblings.
Rock Hill Police Chief Chris Watts urged for peaceful demonstrations.
"Rock Hill Police Department recognizes the pain and frustration our community feels over this incident," Watts said. "We want the public to know that their First Amendment rights to assemble will be protected. Rock Hill Police Department does have an obligation to protect the community, the property and the people protesting and the officers. Peaceful assemblies will always be welcome."
Zion Price, the 10-year-old son of Ricky, joined the demonstrations with a sign that read, "Free Red/Travo No Justice No Peace."
"Let him go," Zion said when he was given an opportunity to send a message to police.
The video of the siblings' arrest was shared by many residents and activists who said the latest incident is yet another example of the unjust system that continues to target Black people.
"It's more than just watching Ricky Price get punched in the face by law enforcement or get hammered in the leg, or see his younger brother Travis get pushed in the throat against a big steel cylinder," Bamberg said. "It's about the underlying principle of why time and time again, we have to see this level of force used on people that look like us."
The attorney compared the incident to the arrest of Dylann Roof, who was treated to a meal immediately after killing nine people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, according to ABC7.
"It blows my mind to sit here once again have to say Dylann Roof can go kill nine people, including a sitting state senator at Mother Emmanuel, and get Burger King but Ricky Price gets a knuckle sandwich," Bamberg said.
The York County SC Democratic Party also expressed its concerns about the arrest.
"Aggressive and unequal policing against Black and brown communities is a national problem, one that our own community now has to reckon with," the organization stated in a Facebook post. "We are appreciative of the leaders who formed and were present at last night's peaceful protest, and we condemn the unhelpful violence that followed it — while recognizing that deep-seated anger manifests in unpleasant ways when people feel neither seen nor heard."
Rock Hill NAACP President Norma Gray called for a peaceful protest amid the upset.
"Allow the Rock Hill NAACP to do what we've been doing, working hand in hand with Chief Watts for seven years," Gray said. "We called for transparency, and we've been given transparency. Allow us to be transparent with you as we are given that information. And so again we're asking for calm as you protest. Use your civil rights but do it in calm."
Bamberg said his client is sitting in jail with a broken nose and two black eyes and he is in a wheelchair because he is having trouble walking.
Travis, who was charged with hindering police, was granted a $1,000 bond.
Rock Hill Police Chief Chris Watts said officers were wearing body cameras during the arrest, but the footage will not be released until the Price family is able to view the footage.
