Phoenix mayor apologizes after video shows police pointing gun on family accused of shoplifting
PHOENIX – Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego issued a statement on Twitter Saturday about the viral video of a disturbing interaction between a young family and Phoenix police officers.
The video shows police pointing guns and yelling threats at Dravon Ames, 22, his pregnant fiancee, Aisha Harper, and their two young daughters after the family said their daughter took a doll from a Family Dollar store.
In her statement, Gallego said she was “sick” over what she saw in the video and called police officers' behavior “completely inappropriate and clearly unprofessional.”
“I am deeply sorry for what this family went through, and I apologize to our community,” Gallego said. “This is not who we are, and I refuse to allow this type of behavior to go unchallenged.”
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Gallego announced changes that will be made to the police force in response to the video. The implementation of body cameras across the complete force is being streamlined, and every Phoenix police precinct will be equipped with them by August, she said.
Gallego also announced a community meeting, where Police Chief Jeri Williams will be present to answer questions and address citizen concerns about the incident in the video. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1401 E. Jefferson St.
“I recognize that to get to the bottom of this issue and implement meaningful change, we are going to have some uncomfortable and painful conversations," Gallego said. “These conversations must continue until every one of our residents feels safe in our community.”
A philanthropic arm of Jay-Z's entertainment company Roc Nation has offered to provide legal support for the Phoenix couple in the video.
Team ROC has reached out to the family to provide legal support, call for termination of the police officers and "ensure the well-being of the children," said Didier Morais, a PR spokesperson for the organization.
Team ROC has secured high-profile attorney Alex Spiro to join the family's legal team pro bono and plans on filing against one of the officers for child neglect, Morais said.
In a statement, Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy Dania Diaz said the incident was "absolutely sickening."
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"There is no place for that behavior in our world – let alone our justice system – and we are calling for the immediate termination of the police officers in question," Diaz said. "We are committed to supporting the family to ensure that justice is served.”
Phoenix police confirmed the incident is under review and released the police report from the incident Friday.
The 16-page police report contends the couple actually stole other items from the store and were combative with police. At one point, officers thought Ames was reaching for a weapon, the report says.
"The Phoenix Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and for this reason, this incident is currently being investigated by the Professional Standards Bureau," Sgt. Tommy Thompson said in an earlier Facebook post.
What happened?
The minutes leading up to the encounter aren't in any of the videos released by family representatives. It's not clear whether officer's attempted to stop the car before the family pulled into the apartment complex or what else happened before the recording started. Ames said the video begins about 10 minutes after police first stopped them.
The couple said it all stemmed from an anonymous call to police that their daughter stole a doll from a Family Dollar store – something the family says was an accident.
Ames said they were dropping off their daughter at the babysitter's apartment when an officer stopped them. He alleges the officers didn't use lights or sirens before they walked over to the parked car carrying Ames, Harper and their two daughters, ages 4 and 1.
"Next thing you know, a police officer ... comes up, open the door, banging on the window with a gun, saying he's gonna shoot us in the face, telling us to get out of the car," Ames said during a press conference Wednesday.
In one of the videos, which was recorded by a resident of the apartment complex, officers can be heard yelling and cursing at the couple. An officer identified only as Myers can be seen pointing a gun at the car. One is heard saying, "You're going to get f--king shot!" The notice of claim says the officer also tells the father," I'm going to put a cap in your ass."
Myers then goes to the back driver's side door, but could not open it because it was malfunctioning, the notice of claim detailed. He bangs on the window and tells Harper to open the door and to put her hands up. She tells him it wouldn't open and that her hands were up.
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A second officer then comes up to the front seat of the car with his gun drawn and points his weapon at the father, according to the notice of claim. The officer pulls Ames out of the car.
Another video starts with Ames lying flat on the pavement as a Phoenix police officer handcuffs him. Ames is then pulled off the ground and pressed up against a police car before the officers kicks out one of his legs. Ames is handcuffed at this time.
"He told the father to spread his legs, which the father did," the notice of claim detailed. "The officer kicked him in the right leg so hard that the father collapsed, and then the officer yanked him back up. He kept his knee between the father’s legs. He punched the father very hard in the back for no reason."
Harper and her two daughters then step out of the car. One of the officers attempts to grab one of the daughters from Harper while he's trying to take the mother into custody. She refused to follow the officer's orders to place the baby on the hot pavement.
The family said the baby was injured when the officer pulled her by the arm. Harper ultimately handed the baby off to a resident of the apartment complex.
Ames was kept in the back of a police car for 30 minutes and Harper for 15. Ames told the officers he owned the car when questioned if he stole it. They were released after another lieutenant came and defused the situation, according to the claim. Neither Ames or Harper were charged in connection with the incident.
The officers were not wearing body cameras. The department plans to have all patrol officers equipped with the technology by the end of the year.
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Warning: The document contains obscenities.
Follow Claire Rafford and Bree Burkitt on Twitter at @breeburkitt.
