The three Tuscaloosa, Alabama, officers relieved of duty for their actions responding to a noise complaint have been identified.
Advertisement
Caroline Elizabeth Giddis, 22, of Tennessee was arrested on charges of obstructing governmental operations and harassment.
Videos posted to social media showed police pulling three people out of an apartment after students refused to leave, asking an officer for a warrant. Another officer hits him with a baton while you see Giddis nearby as she’s dragged out on the group.
“Needless to say once I started receiving the videos and watching what occurred, I was deeply disturbed by it and disappointed in the way our officers responded”, Anderson said. “As the parent of two University of Alabama students myself, I can assure you the University is working with the City of Tuscaloosa to ensure this type of occurrence does not happen again, ” Grady wrote.
Stun guns have become an extremely common policing tool, deployed in more than 15,000 US law enforcement and military agencies, according to a 2011 National Institute of Justice report.
During Monday’s news conference, Chief Anderson was asked what is required if a police officer knocks on the door and you answer.
The three Tuscaloosa, Ala., police officers who were suspended after they were seen on video using a stun gun and a baton in an arrest were identified Tuesday. Investigators have the videos that are circulation online and are also reviewing body camera footage from officers who responded. “We’ve already started and we’ve already conducted a few interviews with a few of the officers based on what we’ve been able to dissect from the video”, Anderson said.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department released a statement saying that the incident is under an internal investigation. “Get outside now!” Moments later a scuffle takes place in the doorway, a stun gun appears to go off, and the students are dragged out.
In the meantime, Giddis said, “I have to be very, very careful in what I say. He wants to protect her interests, but notes that any parent would probably have a lot to say”. “No, but there’s no need to fear us or fear our officers”.
A University of Alabama official said they are also reviewing the actions of three UAPD officers who responded to the TPD officer’s call for emergency assistance.
Advertisement
Three students were arrested in the incident, Anderson added.
