New Castle County Police Use Force to Arrest Woman – NBC10 Philadelphia

During the investigation into a traffic stop in New Castle County, Delaware, in which officers attempted to pull a woman out of a car to arrest her on the ground, police released footage of the arrest captured by a body-worn camera on the officer.

The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2024, after the driver – whose identity is unknown to police – stopped in the parking lot of a Royal Farms on Pulaski Highway in Bear, county police said.

In a press release dated Thursday, July 4, 2024, police said that “an officer with the New Castle County Division of Police was traveling in the area of ​​Walther Road and Pulaski Highway when he observed a car committing several traffic violations.”

“The officer was also able to confirm that the car’s registration was suspended and that it had no insurance. He also found an old bullet hole in the driver’s door with police marks on it,” said investigators.

The officer turned on the car’s headlights and followed the driver along Pulaski Highway before he headed toward Royal Farms and backed into a parking space, police said.

The video, which was posted on YouTube and which police are now using in their investigation, begins with an explanation of the video and then shows police radio messages talking about an “uncooperative driver.”

Warning: The video contains images of violence and numerous instances of foul language from both the arrested woman and the police officers who arrested her.

The first images from the first police officer’s bodycam show the officer at the wheel following the car.

The body camera footage then shows the officer approaching the car and telling the woman to “get out of the car,” and a conversation between the officer and the driver in which she asks why she was stopped.

The woman tries in vain to get Siri to call her lawyer while the car door is open. The officer then explains,

“I won’t do anything to hurt you, so calm down,” the woman says.

“When my backup officer gets here, I’m going to pull you out and handcuff you,” the officer says.

They continue to debate how and why the woman was arrested while wondering if the lead officer’s body camera is actually on.

The woman refuses to get out of the car while she and the police officer continue to argue.

A few minutes later, more police officers arrived at the scene with sirens blaring.

As soon as backup arrives, the officer tells the woman that he will get her out of the car.

A scuffle ensues and the officers order the woman to lie down on the ground.

“I’m going to punch you in the face,” a man’s voice can be heard saying during the fight.

One of the officers claimed that when he was on the ground, the woman grabbed his foot.

“Put his foot down immediately,” another officer is heard shouting.

“It’s all on camera, ma’am, we’re all on camera,” a police officer is heard saying as she tries to handcuff the woman.

“It didn’t have to happen like this,” says an officer as several officers continue to try to handcuff the woman.

Even after the woman is handcuffed, the woman and the officers continue to shout at each other.

“The police are trying to get the woman to stay on her side so she can breathe,” says a policewoman.

The woman is seen suffering injuries to her knee and elbow after being turned over after being handcuffed. At least four officers are seen before the woman is led to a waiting police car.

The woman continues to resist as she is searched by a police officer before being put into the car.

The video then includes still images in which the woman reaching for police officers is circled.

The second bodycam shows an officer getting out of a police car and putting on gloves as he approaches the first officer and the car.

During the altercation, one of the officers appears to make several striking movements.

The second camera angle also appears to show additional police officers at the crime scene.

The third bodycam angle shows the perspective of a police officer in the passenger seat arriving on the scene after the car is stopped. This angle also shows the struggle to get the woman under control.

In the third video, the faces of the police officers are blurred, but the woman’s face remains unchanged.

“Hit me in the face again so I can get it on camera,” the woman says as she lies on the ground.

At least one officer can be heard breathing heavily as he takes the woman into the car.

The fourth camera shot shows an officer driving to Royal Farms and seemingly running toward the scuffle while the woman is already on the ground. It quickly turns into a scuffle where the goal is to “get your foot down now.”

It also offers a different perspective on the search, with the arrested woman asking questions about how her crotch area and the area around her breasts are searched.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer posted a statement on social media on July 1 promising to release the bodycam video.

“We are aware of the recent video footage circulating on social media involving a use of force by New Castle County Police in a parking lot on Route 40,” Meyer said. “Our county police have a duty to serve and protect communities in a way that protects the health and safety of all residents first and foremost. And we have a duty to do so equally in all communities in our county.”

“In addition, we will be conducting a review of all de-escalation and cultural competency policies, training and practices in collaboration with the New Castle County Police Accountability Board,” Meyer said.