A New York man is claiming that Schenectady officers used a stun gun and pepper spray on him after he jaywalked last week and refused to submit to a body search, in an incident that was partially captured in two separate cell phone videos.
Shaquille Parker, 22, alleged that the June 3 incident began when he crossed a road in front of a bus while traffic had the green light, theDaily Gazette reported. Parker claimed the driver was stopped and had motioned him to cross, but when he got to the other side, an officer stopped him and asked for identification.
Parker said he gave his ID but refused to submit to a search when the cop asked. Parker later told the Gazette, where he works as a mailroom sorter, that he had marijuana on him, but that the officer did not know that at the time the he stopped him. Officers were reportedly in the neighborhood on June 3 to respond to "nuisance activities."
The cop then reportedly told Parker to put his hands up against a wall. Parker refused, and started walking away. Witness's footage of the incident begins with the officer following Parker down the residential street. At one point, the cop lifts his hand to Parker's face, which is when he alleges he was pepper sprayed. In the same 2 ½ minute clip, two other officers can then be seen running up to the pair, before one fires his stun gun, bringing Parker to the ground, where he is then cuffed by officers. Parker says he was sprayed again after the backup officers arrived at the scene.
"It was definitely excessive, excessive, because, I mean, all I wanted to do was go home," Parker told the Gazette.
The other footage shows a closer view of the incident, showing Parker raise his hands to his eyes and visibly in pain before and while he is being tasered.
Parker was arrested and charged with felony second-degree assault, misdemeanor resisting arrest, violation-level disorderly conduct, and marijuana possession. He was released from jail on June 9 on his own recognizance. One of the officers allegedly received minor injuries during the skirmish.
Melanie Trimble, executive director of the local chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called on the police department to conduct a full investigation into the incident and to "come clean to the public what the policies and procedures of the Police Department actually are."
Trimble said jaywalking does not provide probable cause to warrant a search, if that indeed was the reason Parker was stopped.
Police said they have not yet received a formal complaint about the arrest, but the department's chief told the Gazette,"we'll look at everything."
Shaquille Parker, 22, alleged that the June 3 incident began when he crossed a road in front of a bus while traffic had the green light, theDaily Gazette reported. Parker claimed the driver was stopped and had motioned him to cross, but when he got to the other side, an officer stopped him and asked for identification.
Parker said he gave his ID but refused to submit to a search when the cop asked. Parker later told the Gazette, where he works as a mailroom sorter, that he had marijuana on him, but that the officer did not know that at the time the he stopped him. Officers were reportedly in the neighborhood on June 3 to respond to "nuisance activities."
The cop then reportedly told Parker to put his hands up against a wall. Parker refused, and started walking away. Witness's footage of the incident begins with the officer following Parker down the residential street. At one point, the cop lifts his hand to Parker's face, which is when he alleges he was pepper sprayed. In the same 2 ½ minute clip, two other officers can then be seen running up to the pair, before one fires his stun gun, bringing Parker to the ground, where he is then cuffed by officers. Parker says he was sprayed again after the backup officers arrived at the scene.
"It was definitely excessive, excessive, because, I mean, all I wanted to do was go home," Parker told the Gazette.
The other footage shows a closer view of the incident, showing Parker raise his hands to his eyes and visibly in pain before and while he is being tasered.
Parker was arrested and charged with felony second-degree assault, misdemeanor resisting arrest, violation-level disorderly conduct, and marijuana possession. He was released from jail on June 9 on his own recognizance. One of the officers allegedly received minor injuries during the skirmish.
Melanie Trimble, executive director of the local chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called on the police department to conduct a full investigation into the incident and to "come clean to the public what the policies and procedures of the Police Department actually are."
Trimble said jaywalking does not provide probable cause to warrant a search, if that indeed was the reason Parker was stopped.
Police said they have not yet received a formal complaint about the arrest, but the department's chief told the Gazette,"we'll look at everything."
