A Philadelphia police officer is facing criticism after a video went viral showing him harassing a group of teenagers and detaining one of them for no reason.
The situation happened Thursday when a group of teenagers was standing by a bus stop on their way home. The video, taken by a 16-year-old girl named Asia, shows an officer pushing a young boy's legs into his police cruiser and slamming the door shut.
Instagram is helping this get out, but it needs more attraction. This Happened in Philadelphia,Pa on Thursday. A group of school kids and I were waiting for the bus at the bus stop when a cop car came to us, slowed down and stared at us then kept going down the street. pic.twitter.com/OrvOvWf3Oh
— Asia ???????? (@Asiaaaaaaaaaaa_) September 14, 2019
In response to the outcry online, the Philadelphia Police Department asked the teenagers to file a complaint against the officer.
Hello. Please visit this link to file an Official Complaint Against Police. Please provide as much detail as possible on the form : https://t.co/stT64xFxZT
— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) September 14, 2019
You can hear Asia and the other kids nearby repeatedly asking the police officers why the boy was arrested. Many of the kids waiting at the bus stop said the boy was simply waiting with them when the police cruiser showed up and detained him.
When the officer noticed Asia and the other teenagers were filming the interaction, he approached them and told them to get on the bus and leave.
He then returns 3 minutes later with another cop car and now there are 4 officers. It was 87 degrees out side and the young gentlemen who’s about 14 did not have a shirt on at the time. The officer grabs him aggressively and pushes him into the police car while trying to get… pic.twitter.com/Cj9cxEtcez
— Asia ???????? (@Asiaaaaaaaaaaa_) September 14, 2019
…. the rest of us to go down the street to the next bus stop. We refused to move. The officer then waits until the next bus comes and try to get everyone onto the bus while he still has the young man in the car. Once again we refused to walk away until the young boy was once…
— Asia ???????? (@Asiaaaaaaaaaaa_) September 14, 2019
…again with us. The officer finally lets the boy out then proceeded to mess with him. He yells “Don’t forget to tell your friends you were shaking in a police car” and when the video clipped off he also yelled “You’re still shaking, are you ok?” And laughs. I posted this……
— Asia ???????? (@Asiaaaaaaaaaaa_) September 14, 2019
By Monday, Asia's video had been seen over 1.5 million times on Twitter and Instagram.
Asia wrote on Twitter the situation was frustrating because she was with him as they walked from school and thought the arrest was completely arbitrary.
"Our school is down the street from the bus stop. I personally was with the young boy the entire walk to the bus stop and I’m saying this to tell you he did not do anything. I was with him the ENTIRE time, then the cop pulls up on us. Now out of the 800 people that has watched both videos and most have tagged @PhillyPolice we still have received a response from them," she wrote. "I am 16 and quick to pull out a camera when the police came around."
The response to the police statement on Twitter was harsh, with some even offering to help the teenagers file the complaint.
Seriously? You witness an unlawful detention on video, and won't act unless children file official complaints? What civil rights violations do you only investigate – even when you witness them – unless someone turns in a piece of paper.
Here's someone who deals with that, kids. pic.twitter.com/1vrToNuonR
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 15, 2019
Y’all need to do more than tell her to just file a report… how about actually investigating and punishing jordon von strangle and flat back Betty along with the other two ignoramus’ that just STOOD there while that young man was harassed. It’s sick how y’all don’t care till…
— RaeRae24 (@WhosRaee) September 15, 2019
We will assist you if you need help with filing the complaint and we will follow up. Please give your friend our information we are here as advocates. He can go to our website and file a report which we will follow up with him on. https://t.co/kTRTxzfRSD ????????
— #TogetherWeStand (@TWSrevolution) September 15, 2019
Lol! File a complaint on the police department with the police department so it can be lost in the shuffle and protected by blue code. Smh.
— Kenneth Johnson (@mrkdotj2) September 15, 2019
I have an attorney on deck if you need one
— emi???? (@_emiola_) September 15, 2019
Complaint (badge #7211)
Filed.— demario luc (@bcuwildcat98) September 15, 2019
I can’t wait till y’all get sued????????
— ApimpNamedslickBack???? (@apimp_back) September 15, 2019
The officer has not been identified, but Asia said she was hoping the bodycam footage came out to show what really happened.
"@PhillyPolice I honestly want to [hear] the body camera’s audio for this day AND you owe the young gentlemen an apology for harassment," Asia added.
