In a cellphone video recorded early Saturday morning at North Avenue Beach in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, a woman can be heard screaming for help as she battles a CPD agent.
The woman’s lawyer said the altercation began after the officer seen in the video allegedly asked the woman to leave the beach because it was closed.
Following this order, the video shows an altercation between the two.
WATCH: Video shows altercation between CPD agent and black woman walking dog
“For some reason, this officer decided to interact specifically and then to address and attack Ms. Brown,” said Keenan Saulter, the woman’s attorney.
Saulter identified the woman as Nikkita Brown and said she was traumatized by the encounter.
Her lawyer called the incident a brutal and unprovoked attack, saying she was leaving the beach when the officer laid hands on her.
“She was still leaving,” he said. “She was always coming out of the park.
Supt. Brown addresses video of officer arguing with woman walking dog
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown addressed the video at a press conference Monday morning.
“What we do know is that there was a beach closure, apparently, that preceded this interaction,” said Superintendent Brown. “This is the extent of what we know. We apparently don’t have an arrest by this officer and don’t quite understand because we haven’t interviewed this officer and COPA will be in charge of this. interview. I think the Copa have reached out to the person you see in the video walking the dog that got into a fight with the officer. I think they’re starting this conversation. “
Superintendent Brown said there was also video of the officer’s body camera. The superintendent also asked the public to withdraw their judgment until the Citizens’ Bureau for Police Accountability can complete their investigation.
Once this is complete, Superintendent Brown may accept COPA’s recommendation or make a different decision which would be reviewed by the Board of Directors.
While COPA investigates, Brown can either relieve the officer of his police powers or assign him to administrative duties. He expects to make a decision after receiving another update on the investigation later Monday.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot also acknowledged the situation with a tweet saying she was deeply concerned about what is depicted on the lakeside beach in this video.
I am deeply concerned with what is depicted on the beach by the lake in this video.
I am aware of the incident and it is currently under investigation.
– Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) August 30, 2021
Community activists have expressed outrage at the incident.
“We are asking and we are demanding that Lori Lightfoot remove this individual, publish the images of the host as well as their name so that we know who we are really talking about,” said Lamar Woodfield of the No More Foundation.
“If we didn’t have a video camera, what would have happened to this woman?” Witness Troy Gaston said.
Gaston was walking his dog when he recorded the video.
The Chicago Police Department responded to the video, saying in a tweet that they were aware of the video and are working with COPA on the matter.
CPD is aware of a video circulating on social media about an incident involving a Chicago police officer and a woman walking her dog on North Avenue Beach. CPD promptly referred the matter to @ChicagoCOPA when we learned of the incident.
– Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 29, 2021
COPA said in a separate tweet that it was working with Nikkita Brown’s attorney.
“We absolutely want a full investigation,” Saulter said. “Our challenge is that we want this officer identified so that we can officially file a complaint.”
COPA is aware of the incident and the video currently circulating on social media of a DPC officer and a woman with her dog on a Chicago beach. We are investigating and are in communication with the woman’s lawyer.
– COPA (@ChicagoCOPA) August 30, 2021
Nikkita Brown’s attorney said she called 911 when she got home, claiming she told a CPD sergeant that the altercation started while the officer was in her car from police.
Nikkita Brown added that other people were walking the beach at the same time, but feels she was targeted because of her race.
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