LANSING, Mich. — In a statement released to the media late Friday, Lansing Police reported the following regarding an incident that has gone viral on the internet and shows a girl being struck by a police officer.
This is portion of that press release:
Upon arrival officers observed the subjects and called out to them.
Both observed the officers and took off running away.
Within a short period both were caught and arrested.
Officers arrested a 16 year old female and a 15 year old male.
While walking the suspects back to the patrol car, the 16 year old female resisted arrest and was able to remove one of her handcuffs.
The suspect actively attempted to escape custody and was forced to the ground in order to control her.
Officers had to physically carry the arrested16 year old female to the nearby patrol car.
At this point a LPD female officer assists the officers at the patrol car.
The 16 year old actively resists entering the car and kicks at the officer.
The female officer then uses strikes to the suspect in order to gain control.
The 16 year old was secured in the patrol vehicle and transported to the Ingham County Youth Home.
The 16 year old suspect did not require any medical treatment and was uninjured.
Several videos came out Friday which show a Lansing police officer striking a girl numerous times while trying to get her into a police car.
Chief Yankowski said the 16-year-old girl was a runaway from a youth home.
He also stated his officers were called to the scene by a 9-1-1 call.
Chief Yankowski said the woman taken in by police was not injured, however the incident is under investigation by the department's internal affairs division.
He also stated that the officers will be held accountable if they violated any policy.
He did add that the girl was kicking while being placed into the vehicle.
Various videos of the incident were posted to Facebook on Friday.
The video has gone viral and there has been outrage by those who have seen it.
In the audio of one of the several videos, you can hear the girl scream, "You hurt my arm."
An officer on the scene is heard ordering the girl to "put your leg in" as she was putting the woman into the car.
The video on this site shows the officer striking the girl while she is in the vehicle.
Lansing Police are asking for anyone with video or information regarding this incident to contact them at 517-483-4804.
You can also contact Lansing Police Department's Internal Affairs Division by e-mail at LPDinternalaffairs@lansingmi.gov.
Fox 47 is working on this developing story and will update this story as more details become available.
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