Photo: Woodson Terrace Police Department
Calls are growing for the termination of three Missouri police officers seen in viral footage letting a police dog bite a Black man who was pinned up against a patrol car and seemingly cooperating with authorities who were arresting him.
Two of the officers then pull the man to the ground, as the third directs the animal to “Bite him.” They pull the man up, and the dog latches on again, bringing the man down. The dog continues biting the man while he’s on the ground, being handcuffed.
The man’s name has not been released, and the officers' names are also being withheld.
In a statement, the Woodson Terrace Police confirm they responded to a trespassing call at a business that morning, and encountered the man, who was leaving the area.
The statement alleges “the subject was under the influence of a narcotic,” and explains that the officers “advised him he was under arrest.” He was asked to put his hands behind his back, “but he refused,” it is alleged in the statement, “and when the officers attempted to place the subjects hands behind his back, the subject resisted and refused to comply.”
The statement continues: “The officers attempted to get the subject to cooperate with them but the subject continued resisting. The subject was then warned several times that if he did not comply the K9 would be released. The subject continued to resist, causing minor injuries to one of the officers, so the K9 was released and the K9 gained control of the suspect’s foot. The suspect went to the ground and the K9 was pulled off the subject.
“After the K9 was pulled off of the suspect, the officers attempted to place the subject into handcuffs but due to the subject being under the influence of drugs, he continued to resist and the officers were unable to restrain the subject.”
It also claims the man, who has not been charged with a crime, was in possession of methamphetamine at the time.
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“The subject was released pending application of warrants,” the statement ends.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatchcovered a protest Fridayoutside the Woodson Terrace Police Department. Activist Zaki Baruti compared the officers' actions to the use of police dogs against civil rights protestors in the 1960s.
source: people.com
