About 40 people protested outside the jail, including members of Madison’s Young, Gifted and Black organization who are demanding Laird be released from jail and that the officers be arrested.
Advertisement
According to Madison police, officers were called at about 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday to East Towne Mall regarding a black woman who was described by mall security as “out of control and making threats”. Police said Laird displayed a knife and threatened a food court employee and mall security staff, according to an incident report.
A video of the arrest shows Madison police officers struggling with Laird as they took her to the ground to handcuff her Tuesday. Laird is then pushed to the ground, kneed several times and even punched in the stomach. Her mother and sister were en route to Madison from Chicago at the time of the demonstration. Laird is later outfitted with a spit mask and carried to the back of a patrol vehicle.
The arresting officers were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries. But I got the whole thing on video! OFN!
“There were threats and there were inferences to kill someone and ultimately to the employee that she thought had the phone”, Koval said.
In the video, an officer is restraining Laird when another officer walks up to assist with the arrest.
Koval also declined to say what he thought about the officer’s actions as captured on the video, but did promise, “I’m going to be looking with a critical eye at the rights of this woman”.
“I am outraged to my core”, said Ruben Anthony, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison, in a statement. Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney has agreed to have his department oversee the internal investigation.
“The abuse this young woman faced at the hands of these police was savage and excessive”, Anthony said.
Caliph Muab’El, a community organizer and mentor to youth in the community, said the arrest was a “clear act of violence” by the police. “It also speaks to the need for leadership in looking at our policies and practices for the Madison Police Department”.
Mayor Paul Soglin’s office was contacted Wednesday morning, but had not released a statement as of late Wednesday afternoon.
MPD’s Professional Standards will review the footage and incident.
Advertisement
They said they will continue to rally until they believe justice has been served for Genele Laird who remains in custody at the Dane County Jail. “As our country has experienced, too often videos like this one have exposed violent mistreatment of people of color at the hands of the police”.
