Police and prosecutors in Boston are investigating after physique digital camera footage confirmed officers pushing protesters, pepper-spraying crowds and one officer speaking about hitting protesters with a police automobile.
A sergeant was positioned on administrative go away after the leak of the footage captured throughout demonstrations in Could after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
The Boston protests on 31 Could had been largely peaceable till nighttime, when vandalism was reported. Greater than 50 folks had been arrested, 18 bystanders had been hospitalized and 9 officers had been handled for accidents, Boston.com reported.
The movies posted on Friday by The Enchantment, an internet information outlet, confirmed officers pushing nonviolent demonstrators to the bottom, spraying pepper spray on folks and into crowds, and one officer saying he might have hit folks with a automobile.
An lawyer for the protesters has requested the video.
Police commissioner William Gross mentioned in a press release he ordered an investigation as quickly because the movies had been dropped at his consideration.
“I’ve positioned a sergeant concerned on this incident on administrative go away and I’ll take any extra motion as vital on the conclusion of the investigation,” Gross mentioned. “I need to encourage folks to convey these issues to our consideration in order that we are able to examine them appropriately.”
Mayor Marty Walsh mentioned the footage was tough to look at and that he hoped to get solutions by way of the investigation.
“We by no means need to see law enforcement officials utilizing extra drive than vital, even when tensions are excessive,“ he mentioned.
A spokesperson for Suffolk county district lawyer Rachael Rollins mentioned she was additionally investigating.
