Judge Approves Release of All Video of Controversial Arrest

CHARLOTTE – A judge is allowing the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to release all of the video from a controversial arrest. The public will be allowed to see it next week.

Cell phone video shows police officers approach Christina Pierre and Anthony Lee on November 13th. Police thought they were smoking marijuana. Officers reportedly grabbed Pierre and punched her in the face, followed by 17 additional punches from officer Vincent Pistone.

This week, the district attorney dropped all the charges against Pierre.

Pierre’s attorney Lauren Newton explained to WCCB’s Emma Mondo what she expects the videos to include “body worn camera footage from every single officer who responded, but also when she is sitting in an investigation room literally reacting and responding to the trauma she’s been through, as well as charlotte department of transportation footage from the nearby intersection.”

Newton tells me that the videos will be edited to remove or conceal addresses, phone numbers and body parts or under garments. Once those redactions are made and the city councils had an opportunity to review, then the footage will be released to the public. She anticipates that city council will view the video at their Monday meeting on December 11.

The video release is the first step for attorney Lauren Newton. She says the next step is policy change.