Monthly Archives: February 2021

BIPOC, National

Rochester, New York police officers suspended after violent arrest of 9-year old

Video

From Malcontentment Happy Hour, February 1, 2021

Outrage over the pepper-spraying of a restrained 9-year old grows in upstate New York

WARNING: This report shows violent actions against a child, domestic violence, and abuse. Viewer discretion is advised.

[ROCHESTER] – (Malcontent News) Accusations of domestic violence and child abuse flew in Rochester, New York on January 29, as police arrested, and then pepper-sprayed a restrained 9-year-old child in the back of a police cruiser. Police were called about an incident involving the child, where she initially reported to officers that her mother had stabbed her father.

During the incident caught on multiple police body cameras, the mother of the child verbally and physically assaulted the restained juvenile, before police ordered her to go into her home. They attempt to take the child into custody, after telling her she wasn’t in any trouble, and then wrestle her to the ground and handcuff her. The child refuses to put her legs into the police cruiser and begs for a female police officer on video.

As a female officer attempted to deescalate, the other officers involved only made the situation worse, until the female officer also joined in, and ultimately pepper-sprayed the handcuffed 9-year-old in the face. She was then locked in the police cruiser while begging for her eyes to be wiped.

The police union on Sunday, January 31, 2021, attempted to defend the actions, stating policing is a hard job, labeling the pepper spray as an “irritant,” and talking about the trauma of day-to-day police work. The mayor and interim police chief could find no word to defend the actions.

On Monday, February 1, 2021, it was announced an unknown number of officers have been suspended, with pay, pending an investigation. The mayor of Rochester indicated that this was the only action they can take due to the police union contract and New York state law. Despite allegations of assault and child abuse and the abuse caught on camera, after taking the nine-year-old child to the hospital, she was released back to her family. The child is black, all 9 officers who were at the scene were white.

Breaking News, Local

OPA opens investigation into Inauguration Day protest arrest

Protesters in Portland and Seattle broke windows, sprayed graffiti, and engaged with police officers on Inauguration Day leading to arrests in both cities. Malcontent News has learned that the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) is investigating police officer conduct for one of the arrests.

On Wednesday, January 20, a smaller group of protesters splintered off from a peaceful group and broke windows at a Chase bank, a courthouse, and a Starbucks location in historic Pike Place Market. Seattle police took a person into custody, and during the arrest, a police officer was observed and photographed with their knee on the neck of the suspect.

Video coverage of January 20, 2021 arrest now under opa investigation

Additionally, during the arrest, an officer energized a taser, holding it close to the face of the suspect. The taser was not used on the suspect, and Seattle police defended the action as a de-escalation technique. In an interview with Brandi Cruze on Fox Q13 today, Chief Adrian Diaz indicated that the individual was facing a misdemeanor charge, although did not state the specifics.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”20″ gal_title=”Inauguration Day Protests”]

The OPA reached out to Malcontent News indicating an investigation has been opened up over the conduct of officers during the arrest and requesting additional video content if it was available. The available video and photographs of the arrest are fully published, and that was indicated to the OPA.

The opening of this investigation is in addition to five officers being investigated for their involvement during January 6, 2021, insurrection, and SPOG president Mike Solan under investigation for his Twitter behavior.