SHOCKING video shows Missouri cops letting K-9 bite Black man for 'resisting arrest'
A disturbing cellphone footage showing three cops seemingly letting their dog bite a Black man under arrest, has led to the Missouri police department having to explain their actions. While the police accused the man -- who was suspected of breaking into a business -- of refusing to comply, the footage seems to show otherwise. The video was captured by a bystander.
The video shows two police officers arresting the Black man, who is seen leaning over a car hood, while another cop stands near the car with a dog barking. While the Black man appears to be resisting, the other two officers step away and the K9 is released on him. The dog barks and bites at the man's ankles, who grabs his legs and shouts "help". The officers, however, continue to let the dog attack the man. The incident brings to mind the case of 17-year-old Ilinois teen Devondre Williams who was bitten by a K-9 for 8 minutes before cops stunned the dog. In another incident from October last year in Alabama, a K-9 mauled an innocent Black man to death in a false burglary alert.
Watch the video here
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The man is eventually pushed to the ground by the officers, while the dog attacks him, pulling and yanking his leg. One of the cops is seen pulling the dog away and then releasing it again so it can attack the man. The dog continues to bite the man until it is finally pulled away and the man is arrested. “This incident bears all the hallmarks of cops deciding to issue their personal form of street justice — inflicting pain and punishment on the spot instead of waiting for the courts to do their job,” the editorial board at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said. Disturbed at the incident, Michael Gould, a dog expert specializing in police canine tactics, said, “The fact of the matter is, it’s a human reflex response. “You can’t have an 80-pound dog puncturing your skin and be compliant. It’s virtually impossible.”
The Woodson Terrace Police Department said in a press release that they arrived at the scene after being called to look into how the suspect was trespassing at a business in Woodson Terrace. They accused the man of claiming that he was a sovereign citizen. Refusing to leave, he allegedly threatened to kill the responding officers. They apparently told the man that if he refused to comply, they would have to use their dog. They accused the man of being on drugs.
“The officers attempted to get the subject to cooperate with them, but the subject continued resisting,” the press release states. “The subject was then warned several times that if he did not comply, the K9 would be released. The subject continued to resist, causing minor injuries to one of the officers, so the K9 was released and the K9 gained control of the suspect’s foot. The suspect went to the ground and the K9 was pulled off the subject.”
"After the K9 was pulled off of the suspect the officers attempted to place the subject into handcuffs but due to the subject being under the influence of drugs he continued to resist and the officers were unable to restrain the subject. The subject got up and attempted to flee from the officers and the K9 was released again biting the suspect on his leg. The officers were able to handcuff the subject and the K9 was pulled off. An ambulance responded but the subject refused medical attention and he was transported to the Woodson Terrace Police Department. The subject began complaining about his injuries so the ambulance responded and transported the subject to the hospital. After the subject was arrested the officers found suspected Methamphetamine on the subject which would explain why the officers were unable to restrain the subject. The subject was released pending application of warrants," the press release adds.
The cops' approach toward the Black man has attracted a slew of very angry reactions online. One person commented online slamming the police saying: "What incredibly distorted lens must you be seeing through to remotely think that this k9 tactic was anything but barbaric. Just sick. I hope the hammer of justice swings swift and true." Another angrily wrote: "Obviously they haven’t learned anything from the George Floyd experience!"