Raleigh police internal investigation prompted after cell phone video shows controversial arrest of protesters

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown says the department will begin an internal investigation into the arrest of two protesters that happened during a demonstration Thursday.

Chief Brown tells CBS 17 officers were directing traffic for a group of people who were protesting near McDowell and Hillsborough streets when the group changed course.

“Members of the group ran into the intersection, jamming traffic and creating safety concerns,” Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said of how the incident was sparked.

As police attempted to move people from the street, video shows an officer pulling a female protestor by the arm, and then another female protestor is seen holding onto her.

Brown said, “which was initially reported as an assault on a law enforcement officer, that led to arrests and charges.”

Officers arrested the two females Thursday, one was a minor. Police say the minor was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer. The second female was detained and cited for resisting arrest, delaying arrest, and obstructing traffic, police say.

Deck-Brown said during a Friday press conference that she was concerned about the actions of the officers involved, prompting the investigation. Deck-Brown also says she wants the charges against the protesters to be dropped.

“Based on my initial review of the body camera footage, I am concerned by the actions of some of our officers,” Deck-Brown told reporters.

The chief did not clarify how many officers are under investigation or if they are still working their normal schedules. Deck-Brown has since filed a petition with the courts to get the body camera footage released to the public.

“We are going to put our best foot forward and where we don’t, we have to address those issues as well,” she said. “And I’m standing here doing that.”