An African American woman who says her wrists and ankles were shackled by police for hours while she was in active labor at a hospital has settled with the City of New York and its police department. The woman was arrested two days past her due date in late 2018 on a misdemeanor assault charge that was later dismissed and sealed, her attorneys told CNN. She went into labor the day of her arrest, according to a lawsuit. She filed the suit against the city of New York and several New York Police Department officers anonymously in October, seeking damages … Continue reading Woman shackled by police while in labor settles with New York City

A US jury has found a former police officer guilty of murder over the death of African-American George Floyd on a Minneapolis street last year. Derek Chauvin, 45, was filmed kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during his arrest last May. The widely watched footage sparked worldwide protests against racism and excessive use of force by police. Chauvin was found guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. He will remain in custody until he is sentenced and could spend decades in jail. The 12-member jury took less than a day to reach their … Continue reading USA: Jury finds Derek Chauvin guilty of murder in the death of George Floyd

Tear gas has been fired and a curfew imposed amid angry protests after police fatally shot a black man in a traffic stop in the US city of Brooklyn Center, just north of Minneapolis. The man has been identified by relatives as 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Brooklyn Center’s mayor issued a city-wide curfew until 06:00 (11:00 GMT), telling people to “be safe, go home”. Tensions in Minneapolis are high as the trial of the former officer accused of killing George Floyd takes place. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was “closely monitoring the situation” and praying for Mr Wright’s family. Hundreds of … Continue reading Protests near Minneapolis after police killing of black man

The police officer who pepper-sprayed an Army officer during a traffic stop last year has been fired, the Windsor Police Department announced on Sunday. Joe Gutierrez was one of the two Windsor police officers caught on camera pointing their guns at Caron Nazario, a second lieutenant in the Army, at a traffic stop at a gas station in December. In body camera video shared online by The Associated Press, Gutierrez is also seen pepper-spraying Nazario multiple times, after one of the officers attempted to open his car door. In a statement released on Sunday, the Windsor Police Department said it conducted an … Continue reading Update: Virginia officer who pepper sprayed Army officer fired

Body camera footage has shown US police officers handcuffing and screaming at a five-year-old boy who had walked away from his school. The video, released on Friday by police in Maryland, shows the two officers telling the boy’s mother that she should “beat him”. The incident from January 2020 is the subject of a lawsuit filed by the child’s mother. Her lawyers allege that the child suffered emotional trauma. The officers from Montgomery County Police Department had found the child a few streets away from the school and the body camera video shows him crying in the back of a … Continue reading What a shame: US police bodycam video shows officers berating child aged five

No police officer will face charges over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin – an incident which sparked protests in the US, Mr Blake was left paralysed from the waist down after being shot several times in the back as he got into a car where his three children were sitting. The shooting of Mr Blake, a black man, by white policeman Rusten Sheskey on 23 August aggravated racial tensions. Two people died and one was injured in another shooting in Kenosha days later. Kyle Rittenhouse, now 18, denied six charges including first-degree reckless homicide over those shootings … Continue reading No police officers charged over Jacob Blake shooting

A white Ohio police officer in the United States was fired on Monday after bodycam footage showed him fatally shooting 47-year-old Andre Hill, a Black man who was holding a cellphone and refusing to administer first aid for several minutes. Columbus police officer Adam Coy was fired hours after a hearing was held to determine his employment, Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr said in a statement. “The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer, or the standards we, and the community, demand of our officers,” the statement read. “The … Continue reading US policeman fired over fatal shooting of Andre Hill

A French judge has placed four police officers under criminal investigation over the beating of a black music producer at his studio in Paris earlier this month, video of the white officers attacking producer Michel Zecler emerged last week, causing widespread outrage. The four suspects are facing charges of “intentional violence by a person holding authority”, judicial sources told French media on Monday, two have been remanded in custody, the decision to open a formal investigation comes amid growing concern over police violence in France. On Saturday, protests were held across the country against a security bill that would restrict … Continue reading Four French policemen charged over assault of Michel Zecler

French authorities have suspended three police officers after they were seen on video beating up a black music producer in central Paris, the incident on Saturday has prompted a fresh outcry over the conduct of French security forces. On Monday police were accused of using unnecessary force as they dismantled a makeshift migrant camp in Paris, the incidents come as the government tries to bring in laws banning the broadcast of police officers’ faces. Critics of the legislation say that without such images, none of the incidents which took place over the past week would have come to light. On Thursday, … Continue reading Paris police officers suspended over beating of black music producer

A protester sits overlooking a tent camp in front of City Hall in Kansas City. Protesters upset by social media videos of Kansas City police arresting a pregnant woman have now occupied the lawn in front of City Hall for more than five days. The footage shows an officer kneeling on the back of a pregnant woman during an arrest after a gathering at a gas station. However, her lawyer disputes the police account of the events leading to her arrest. The Kansas City Police Department said in a statement that police were called to the location on September 30 … Continue reading Footage of a Kansas City officer kneeling on the back of a pregnant woman sparks ongoing protest

Nigeria’s top police chief has banned a controversial anti-robbery unit and other special agents from carrying out stop-and-search operations and mounting roadblocks over accusations of abuses. Muhammed Adamu, inspector general of police (IGP) said in a statement on Sunday the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other tactical squads must stop such operations, including traffic checks, “with immediate effect”. He added that police officers must no longer work in plain-clothes but always appear in their uniform or approved tactical gear. The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of … Continue reading Nigeria special police unit reined in after abuse allegations