After an internal investigation, the Grand Rapids Police Department Thursday released four additional body cam footage videos that depict a white officer punching an African-American motorist in the face several times. And while Police Chief Eric Payne said “that the use of force by police…can be disturbing for the public to see,” he stopped short of condemning the officer’s actions.
Payne, who is African-American issued a public statement Thursday, defending the police officers in the video and saying that “the conversation around the limited footage that is publicly available is unfortunately lacking critical details and information.”
The video shows three officers pulling a black driver from his car after he refused to get out, wrestling him to the ground, and as police try to place handcuffs on him, one officer punches a man, Diabate Hood in the face seven times.
However, Chief Payne’s statement Thursday says the video does not tell the whole story. According to the GRPD, the arrest was made at 110 Hall Street SW in Grand Rapids, and address that had been under surveillance that day due to a history of violent crime over the past year including: 6 stolen vehicles, 15 assaults, 19 Weapons offenses and 56 Arrests.
And the officer in question, Michael Reed, says, he punched the motorist, Diabate Hood, in the face to keep Hood from grabbing the officer’s side-piece fire arm as he reached for it.
Hood says that is a lie, has hired an attorney who says the traffic stop is a case of racial profiling. Police say they pulled Hood over for littering.
Meanwhile Chief Payne issued this statement as well,
“I want to assure the community where I stand. I will not protect officers who abuse their authority or dishonor the badge. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my officers when they encounter dangerous situations and conduct themselves professionally, safely, and with integrity.”