CMPD Chief On Video Of Officers Punching Woman: “I Understand The Outrage”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Wednesday, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings faced reporters to take questions and talk publicly about video of the arrest of a woman that shows officers punching her repeatedly. He acknowledged the optics of the arrest are “bad,” and he said he wishes the body camera video the officers wore could be released more easily. He is also asking the community to be patient while this investigation plays out. Jennings says, “I get it. I understand the outrage.” Charlotte’s top cop says starting this conversation now is part of keeping and building trust in the community.

He says, “If I look at this entire thing, are there things we can do better? Absolutely. Are there things that I wish had never happened? Certainly.” Jennings has looked at the “entire thing” (all the police body camera video), but under North Carolina law, the public (who paid for the cameras) will have to wait. Jennings says, “I think that the public does deserve a right to see this video…we’ve already filed a petition to the courts to release it.”

Jennings says he’s not allowed to describe what’s in the video, but that it will show more clearly where Officer Vincent Pistone delivered multiple “compliance strikes.” Jennings was asked: did Pistone strike Christina Pierre too many times? He replied, “If at some point it’s not working, you have to move to something else. So we’ve already had those discussions. Yeah, I think it was seven knee strikes (and) 10 fists. And we have to really take a close look at is when is enough enough.” He continues, “The public is going to say that was excessive. And I understand that. I get it.”

Pierre, and witnesses on scene, say an officer also punched her in the face. Jennings said that is still under investigation. He says, “I did see the bruises on the side of her face. It is consistent with either a punch or an abrasion.” And, there’s the question of marijuana. Jennings says, “What is our goal here? Is it to simply make an arrest for marijuana, which we rarely do? Or is it we feel like this interaction is going to make that community safer?”

Pistone has been taken off patrol and put on desk duty while this investigation is underway.