Cincinnati Police released body-camera footage of Officer Kevin Brown moments after he tased an 11-year-old girl who was shoplifting. The incident happened at a Kroger’s grocery store on Monday, August 6.
Brown, a 55-year-old African America man, says in the video that “this is why there aren’t any grocery stores in the black community.”
Eliot K. Isaac, the Cincinnati Chief of Police, said in a statement that the department is “extremely concerned when force is used by one of our officers on a child of this age.”
Brown has since been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1037531438474780672
The police report says that when Brown searched the child’s backpack, he found “clothing and consumable goods which included food and beverage” which was worth just over $53. The items found in the backpack included “candy and beef jerky, as well as infant clothing.” The backpack also belonged to the Kroger’s grocery store.
According to Cincinnati.com, this is not the first controversial incident involved Officer Brown. Two years ago, Brown was written up for using a homophobic slur in reference to an alleged domestic violence victim.
The Cincinnati Police Department released the following statement about the incident:
On August 6, 2018, a Cincinnati Police Officer working an outside employment detail at a local grocery store was investigating several female juveniles allegedly stealing items from the store. When the Officer approached one of the juveniles she ignored the Officer and coninuted to walk away, ignoring several commands to stop. The Officer deployed his Taser striking the eleven-year-old in the back. The juvenile was subsequently placed into custody and charged with Theft and Obstructing Official business. After being evaluated at Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the juvenile was released to a parent’s custody and will appear in Hamilton County Juvenile Court at a date in the near future.
Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac stated: “We are extremely concerned when force is used by one of our officers on a child of this age. As a result we will be taking a very thorough review of our politics as it relates to using force on juveniles as well as the propriety of the officers acions.”
The officer involved as been placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
https://twitter.com/CincyPD/status/1027024373193035776
Councilman Wendell Young, a former police officer, said of Brown: “I just don’t know if you have room on the police department for people like this. This guy, from what I am hearing, has serious issues. He apparently polices the way he feels.”
As for Brown’s punishment, that will be decided by Chief Issac. The punishment could range from counseling to termination and Brown has the right to appeal any decision.
