Given the fact that many people document police brutality incidents via their cell phone, we don’t always have to wait for store camera or dashcam footage to know the truth anymore.
Recently, an incident involving Columbus, Ohio police and 31-year-old Timothy Davis has come to light.
Cell phone footage shows police officers repeatedly kicking and punching Davis inside of a store. In the video, it appears that Davis’ pants were either pulled or fell down in the tussle.
CBS Columbus reports that Davis had a criminal history of assault and resisting arrest, resulting in a warrant for his arrest.
“Officer grabbed a hold [sic] of Mr. Davis and he pulled away. He then took an officer to the ground, fighting and biting officers,” the criminal complaint filed against Davis claims. The same complaint also states that Davis “tensed up to fight” after realizing he was under arrest.
“We are allowed to punch and we are allowed to kick,” police spokesman Sgt. Dean Worthington said in response to the violent video. “That’s part of our use of force continuum and it all depends on what the behavior of the suspect is at the time. Certainly, we don’t want to go out there and punch citizens of our city, but we have the authority, we have the responsibility to arrest people and sometimes arrests can be ugly.”
Sgt. Worthington confirmed that police internal affairs will review incident details to determine whether or not the force used in this instance falls within police policy.
Following the release of the footage, social media has gathered calling for action, including a store boycott due to suspicions that the store owner called the police on Davis.
#TimothyDavis #KEEPSHARING #POLICEBRUTALITY #beaten #whilehandcuffed @ColumbusPolice you MUST stand accountable! pic.twitter.com/ykvrTqYXqo— blueenigma (@blueenigmaNYC) September 11, 2017
THE PEOPLE RALLY FOR JUSTICE FOR TIMOTHY DAVIS BRUTALLY ATTACKED BY THE COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT #ColumbusOhio pic.twitter.com/b1xg85kPW7— RubenCastillaHerrera (@OhioLatinx) September 9, 2017
However, store owner Jehad Elzaben denies having called the police on Davis, and suggested that they may have entered the store based on his outstanding warrant.
“Like a customer saying, why I don’t stop the police. We cannot stop the police. This is the police. Anybody have a problem with the police, go to police station and let them know,” Elzaben said.
