A viral video shows a black woman walking her dog being violently grabbed by a police officer in an incident presumed to be a result of racial profiling.
Allegedly Racist Police Officer Violently Grabs Black Woman Walking Her Dog
A woman by the name of Nikkita Brown was out on Saturday walking her dog when she was approached by a police officer.
The park was closed at the time but there were multiple people in the area that were seemingly ignored by the officer.
WHO IS HE? SUPPRESSED ON TIKTOK Because god forbid you want to find a police officer who assaulted a woman for no good reason. The woman claims he was LE not just a security guard, this was in Chicago. Who is he. pic.twitter.com/ogR3UimvHM
— Michael Mc (@TizzyEnt) August 29, 2021
What should have been a short conversation escalated quickly as the officer used undue force to grab onto her.
Brown’s lawyers have said that she was on her way out of the park and was trying to leave before being violently attacked by the officer.
The video taken by a bystander shows the woman screaming for help as the officer continues to try and restrain her.
Her small dog also tries to come to her rescue as it jumps around. When Nikkita finally gets free of his grasp, she exchanges some words with the officer and then is able to walk off.
Another video of the incident taken from another angle shows people screaming at the cop to “chill”.
Ms Brown’s attorney has said that this was an obvious case of racial profiling and that other people in the park at the time were white and not approach by the officer.
Ms. Brown went home immediately after the incident and reported him to 911 where she also filed a report.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot took notice of the incident and was deeply disturbed by it. She said in a statement, “I was quite disturbed by what I saw. It looked like the woman was following the direction of the officer and leaving the beach…This is a pretty straightforward matter.”
The police superintendent has said that the incident is under investigation.
One commenter said that Ms Brown may have walked away because there were witnesses and that the officer's intentions seemed more sinister.
"That felt like it was very nearly a sexual assault. If those trucks weren’t there running with lights on …… just a feeling in my gut."
That felt like it was very nearly a sexual assault. If those trucks weren’t there running with lights on …… just a feeling in my gut.
— Writerchick is Fully Vaccinated (@BBwriterchick) August 30, 2021
Others speculated that the incident escalated because Ms Brown attempted to record a video of him.
"No, but he clearly attacked her when she took it out and physically slapped it out of her hands, assuming so she couldn't record him."
No but he clearly attacked her when she took it out and physically slapped it out of her hands, assuming so she couldn't record him.
— JaneKnowsBest (@JaneKn0wsBest) August 29, 2021
A few commenters wondered why the people recording did not intervene but this commenter pointed out that recording was helping and that in situations like this intervening could result in further harm to parties involved.
"To all the ppl saying the driver should've done more: he easily could've died trying to intervene and the police are supposed to be the ones that volunteered to risk their lives for the safety of strangers not the other way around. The irony."
To all the ppl saying the driver should've done more: he easily could've died trying to intervene and the police are supposed to be the ones that volunteered to risk their lives for the safety of strangers not the other way around. The irony
— DONDA Sikes (@LewisWi01494804) August 30, 2021