The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has released additional body camera footage showing the moments before an officer punched a man in the face.
As The Shade Room previously reported, a viral video shows an LAPD officer punching a black man on his chin and cheekbone after he questioned two officers about his arrest. At the time, the detainee’s name was unknown. However, new updates have identified him as Alexander Mitchell.
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Here’s What the New Bodycam Footage Shows
Authorities released additional body camera footage showing the moments before the California police officer used what some are calling extreme force.
In the LAPD footage ABC 7 sharedThe officer questions Alexander, 28, about double parking on a street. Soon after, the officer opens the car door, demands Mitchell’s license and asks him to step out of the vehicle.
As soon as Alexander Mitchell exits the car, the officer immediately arrests him and then punches him in the face while attempting to handcuff his wrist. Note that the officer who threw the punch was being assisted in the arrest by another officer who identified as black.
Mitchell’s attorney, Bradly Gage, said the footage of the punch and the body camera video show a violation of his client’s civil rights.
“I saw an unnecessary escalation from the beginning. They immediately handcuff him and search him for weapons. That’s not how white people are treated by the police and that’s not how black people should be treated by the police.”
Gage further claimed that Alexander Mitchell suffered racial discrimination. “I am confident that if Alex were white, we would not be here today,” Gage stated.
Watch the newly released images below.
Police Protection League Argues Against Mitchell’s Claims
NBC Los Angeles reports that police ordered Mitchell out of the vehicle and claimed he resisted handcuffs “refusing to put hands behind back and holding waist/front pocket area with right hand.”
According to the outlet, Richard Mendoza of the Police Protective League said body camera footage shows officers repeatedly trying to get Mitchell to comply. His refusal prompted the officer to strike him on the right side of the face, allowing him to be handcuffed. Mendoza believes the officers used appropriate force to regain control of the situation.
“They used a distraction punch to the face and managed to handcuff him,” Medoza said.
More details on the viral LAPD video
According to TSR, LAPD officers confronted Alexander Mitchell during a traffic stop in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles on July 28. ABC7 adds that officers initially thought there was no one in the parked vehicle with “heavily tinted windows,” but later noticed Alexander Mitchell inside.
The outlet reports that the video shows two LAPD officers detaining and handcuffing a tall man in a white T-shirt, red basketball shorts, and sneakers. The outlet also confirmed that the incident occurred before dusk near the officers’ parked vehicle.
While being detained, Mitchell immediately shouted: “What did I do?” His questions and concerns prompted the officer to punch the 28-year-old man in the jaw.
On Tuesday, July 30, the LAPD confirmed that they have removed the officer who punched Mitchell from his field duties. It’s unclear whether he is on desk duty or on leave, and it’s unclear how that status will affect his pay. In the meantime, the LAPD is investigating the incident “involving the use of force.”
The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of an incident that occurred during a traffic stop on July 28, 2024 in the Southeast Area involving the use of force.
The incident is under investigation, and the officer involved has been relieved of field duty.
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) July 29, 2024
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