Nationwide — A police officer in Forney, Texas is being heavily criticized after he was seen on video on top of a Black teenage girl while she can repeatedly be heard yelling, “I can’t breathe.”
Kaufman County Sheriff’s Deputy Conner Martin reportedly responded to a 911 call about a young woman, later identified as 18-year old Nekia Trigg, who was walking in the middle of the street trying to get herself hit by a car.
A body camera worn by the officer recorded him approaching the barefoot agitated teen and repeatedly asking her why she is crying. Nekia said she was just going home but the officer held her arm, saying he can’t let her leave on her own.
“Why are you hurting me?” Nekia is heard asking. “I don’t want you to hurt me.”
When the teen tried to pull away from the officer’s hold, Martin pinned her to the ground despite her pleas and screams saying, “I can’t breathe.”
After a few minutes, Nekia’s mother, Antanique Ray, arrived at the scene with some family members who recorded the incident. The video shows Martin laying on top of Triggs before putting her in handcuffs and leading her to a police car.
Antanique, who authorities said struck Martin, was also taken to the ground by Martin and arrested. But it is unclear in the now-viral video or the body camera video if the attack really happened.
Antanique was later charged with assault on a public servant and interference with public duties in addition to two outstanding warrants while Trigg was taken to a mental health facility for evaluation.
Meanwhile, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Martin used an approved control technique to detain Trigg. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Credit: Source link
