WATCH: CMPD Chief Holds News Conference After Viral Video Shows Officer Repeatedly Striking Woman During Arrest
The Latest (11/30/23):
A Mecklenburg County judge ordered the release of the footage from the viral arrest of Christina Pierre and her fiance Anthony Lee during a hearing Thursday morning.
Pierre was the woman at the center of the video originally released on November 15th. During the hearing Thursday, the judge said the court found compelling public interest based on information received during the hearing and after he reviewed a multitude of videos. There are 28 videos in total.
Previous Coverage:
CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings held a news conference to discuss the circumstances surrounding the incident that happened outside a Bojangles restaurant showing a CMPD officer striking a woman repeatedly during an arrest. Watch the full news conference here:
According to CMPD, officers in the Steele Creek Division self-initiated a suspicious person call for service after observing a man and woman smoking marijuana at a bus stop off South Tryon Street. WCCB independently confirmed both individuals worked at the Bojangles located immediately behind the bus stop and had just clocked out after their shift.
The officers say they stopped their vehicle and engaged with the couple, stating that they were under arrest. That’s when police say the woman, identified as 24-year-old Christina Pierre, become combative and stuck an officer in the face. Police continued to say that both Pierre and 37-year-old Anthony Lee refused arrest and a struggle with officers ensued. The officers called for backup to assist with the call for service, according to a news release.
Once Lee was taken into custody, police say they located a concealed, loaded 9mm handgun in his bag. Police say Pierre continued to resist arrest and after several repeated verbal commands, one of the backup officers administered compliance strikes to Pierre’s right thigh in an effort to gain control and prevent further assault, according to a news release.
Chief Jennings told members of the media during this morning’s news conference that the actions of the officers are in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 15A-401 (d) (1) outlined below:
Use of Force in Arrest. –
(1) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (2), a law-enforcement officer is justified in using force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary:
a. To prevent the escape from custody or to effect an arrest of a person who he reasonably believes has committed a criminal offense, unless he knows that the arrest is unauthorized; or
b. To defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of physical force while effecting or attempting to effect an arrest or while preventing or attempting to prevent an escape.
CMPD continues to say officers repeatedly advised Pierre to stop resisting and that the officer who administered the strikes was intentional about where the strikes were made. CMPD says the use of compliance strikes is included in their response to resistance directives.
Lee has been charged with the following:
- Carrying a concealed firearm
- Resist/delay/obstruct
- Simple possession of marijuana
Pierre has been charged with the following:
- Assault on a government official
- Resist/delay/obstruct
- Simple possession of marijuana
The officer who administered the compliance strikes has been identified as Vincent Pistone, according to a news release. Due to conversations with community leaders and safety concerns for the officer, Chief Jennings says they placed Officer Pistone on temporary assignment in investigations. He is not actively on patrol at this time, according to a news release.
Below is a statement from Chief Jennings following the incident:
“I had the opportunity to view this video, and it is not easy to watch. I never want to see an officer, much less one of my own, involved in a situation like this. Our officers are trained to engage and interact with people and manage situations to the best of their abilities based on the training they receive. When individuals physically assault officers and refuse to comply with police and when they resist arrest, officers must physically engage with them to safely take them into custody. Our officers are often placed in difficult situations that require actions that can be difficult to watch. CMPD works tirelessly to keep this community safe. I watched the body worn camera footage and believe that it tells more of the story than what is circulating on social media. The public deserves to view this footage as well, but based on NC state law, I am not permitted to release body worn camera footage without a court order. I have asked for our police attorney to file a petition with the court, so we are able to share this video with the public. This process will take time, but CMPD will update as soon as the court allows.” – Chief Johnny Jennings
Original Article (Posted: November, 14, 2023):
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings released a statement regarding a video that shows an officer striking a female Bojangles employee while she was on the ground, surrounded by other officers. Two videos of the arrest can be seen in the Instagram and Facebook posts below:
CONTENT WARNING: Explicit language is used in both videos
View this post on Instagram
According to a social media post by CMPD, two people were smoking marijuana in a public area on South Tryon Street. When officers approached the individuals, the female allegedly punched an officer in the face, according to Chief Jennings statement.
The man on the scene had a gun in his possession, according to CMPD. Police say both individuals refused arrest and a struggle with officers ensued.
According to authorities, after several repeated verbal commands, an officer struck the female employee seven times with knee strikes and 10 closed fist strikes to the thigh in an attempt to regain compliance.
In response to the altercation, Chief Jennings stated that officers engage and interact to the best of their abilities based on the training and that Police use of force is never easy to watch.
Jennings also stated that Internal Affairs is actively investigating the situation.
