Video shows Richmond police officer punching man in face during traffic stop
RICHMOND, Va. – Video shows a group of Richmond police officers manhandling a driver during a traffic stop before one of them punches the man in the face.
The situation unfolded along Saint James Street in Richmond’s Northside on Nov 4. In the video, at least six officers can be seen approaching a driver during a traffic stop.
One officer can be heard repeatedly telling the driver, “Get out of the car.”
The driver is then heard asking police, “Show me the warrant.”
The encounter then escalates, and officers are seen pulling the driver out of the car before one officer punches the driver in the face. The driver is then tackled to the ground, tased and detained.
Witnesses can be heard screaming in the background, “He can’t breathe.”
According to Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards, there was more to the situation than the cellphone video showed.
“The officers had probable cause to search the vehicle and the person. For about five minutes, our officers tried to negotiate with the driver, asking him to shut the car off,” Edwards said.
“I know this is a concerning event. Any time our officers use force, it’s never pretty, and it’s always upsetting to watch, so we understand there’s concern relating to this video.”
Edwards also said that the driver struck an officer before exiting the vehicle.
Body camera footage will likely not be released due to an ongoing internal and criminal investigation.
According to Edwards, the footage is being examined by a ‘Use of Force’ board, which he says is standard practice.
The video is also prompting questions about the rights of drivers during traffic stops. Several times throughout the video, the driver is heard asking police to show him the arrest warrant.
According to legal analyst Russ Stone, officers may not have a physical copy of the warrant; however, he says they are not required to if there is probable cause.
On Tuesday evening, Edwards attended a community meeting hosted by the Great Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Richmond’s Gilpin Court neighborhood to address the community’s concerns.
Via 8news