UPDATE: Seattle bike officer that allegedly ran over protester placed on leave
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has confirmed that the bike officer who allegedly ran over a protester during Wednesday’s protests has been placed on leave.
According to the SPD, the Force Investigation Team (FIT) documented and investigated the use of force as soon as they became aware of the incident. The team then alerted the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) who has since opened an investigation into the incident.
Following the request from the OPA, the SPD has referred the incident to the King County Sheriff’s Office for a potential criminal investigation.
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In a video captured during protests in Seattle Wednesday night, the police officer is seen riding his bicycle over the head of an injured man.
The police at the #seattleprotests just ran over an injured mans head with their bikes. @SeattlePD is this how you train your officers? pic.twitter.com/c4e146tsmi
— Martin Banks (@WarlockBranis) September 24, 2020
In footage from a few minutes before, a man is seen trying to help the fallen man before being yelled at by an officer saying “get back, get out of the street.”
To everyone saying “Oh, he payed down as they rode up” No. here he is 5 minutes before when someone tried to render aid and the police screamed at them to get back, while doing nothing to help. Push your false narrative elsewhere pic.twitter.com/Eu6MFR6cVY
— Martin Banks (@WarlockBranis) September 24, 2020
The protests last night followed the decision made by prosecutors to not arrest the officers who opened fire on Breonna Taylor in March. The attorney general’s reasoning for the decision was that the police were justified in using force because they acted in self-defense. Only one officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree for shooting into a neighbor’s apartment.
“Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their return of deadly fire after having been fired upon by Kenneth Walker. Let me state that again. According to Kentucky law the use of force by Mattingly and Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” said Attorney General Daniel Cameron during a press conference.
Louisville Mayor, Greg Fischer, released a statement reminding Americans that the “case is far from over.”
He mentioned that the FBI is still conducting its own investigation, which the Department of Justice will review to determine whether there was any violation of federal laws, including Civil Rights violations. The LMPD is also conducting a Professional Standards Unit investigation to determine if any policies and procedures were violated by officers involved in the case. The Chief of Police will use that report to determine if any officers need further training or discipline.
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