Alyssah Hall
Summary: A viral video shows a 17-year-old Black female student being body slammed by a San Bernardino police officer after she was arrested for trespassing. The student’s family is calling for an independent investigation into the incident, which resulted in a dislocated wrist and stitches to her face. The San Bernardino Police Department denies the claims made in the video, stating that the force used was necessary and within policy. The incident is currently being reviewed.
A viral video circulated showing a 17-year-old Black female student being body slammed face first into the cement and assaulted by a San Bernardino male police officer on Wednesday, May 21. As a result of the officer’s actions, she required medical treatment.
In a press conference hosted on May 25, the student and her family called on California Attorney General Rob Bonta to conduct an independent investigation into what led to the violent assault on the student.
“She required immediate medical assistance. Her wrist is dislocated and she received several stitches to her face,” stated Toni Jaramilla, an attorney representing the family.. “This is a clear cut case of police abuse and excessive force by the San Bernardino Police Department which has a long history of excessive force complaints by African American victims of police brutality.”
The 17-year-old was arrested for trespassing and attempting to fight others in San Bernardino at a grocery store in the 500 block of West 2nd Street, according to the San Bernardino Police Department’s press release.
“She didn’t deserve nothing that she had happened to her. I’ll let her tell you guys more if she choose to. I’ll be taking her to the hospital again today. She’s still complaining about her face hurting, her head, hurting her wrist hurting. Her legs hurt, her back hurt. Let’s just get justice for my baby,” The victim’s mother said at the press conference.
The SBPD stated in its release that the online statements made about the female being slammed to the ground while handcuffed and that an officer said she fell to deny the use of force are untrue.
“At the time of the physical encounter, the officer was attempting to place the female in handcuffs. The officer was only able to place one of her hands in cuffs when she began actively pulling away and attempting to walk off from the officer when a takedown maneuver was used,” SBPD stated in the release.
The SBPD said that a supervisor was immediately called to the scene, images were taken and that the female was then taken to a local hospital for a full medical evaluation. The report said she had a chin laceration, a scrape to her cheek and “complained of pain.”
“I’m just in a lot of pain. I’m hurt everywhere, my head, my whole body. I’m not the same person I was,” the 17-year-old girl said at the press conference.
According to the department’s policy, they will investigate whether the force used was necessary, reasonable and within policy. A review is currently underway regarding this incident.