BALTIMORE — Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison sent out a statement Saturday morning after a video of a Baltimore police sergeant being kicked as he was trying to make an arrest went viral.
Just before midnight last night, one of our sergeants was conducting a business check on Pennsylvania Avenue when a person in the business became argumentative with the sergeant and spat in his face. Subsequently, as the video that was recently posted online shows, several other people began kicking the sergeant as he was trying to arrest the suspect.
Based on our preliminary review of the incident, the sergeant did nothing to provoke the assault, and the sergeant should be commended for using the appropriate amount of force to apprehend his assailant. The men and women of our department work tirelessly to protect the people of Baltimore every hour of every day. The actions of these assailants -- and this type of behavior -- simply will not be tolerated.
Commissioner Harrison also added that he is outraged and that BPD is working to identify everyone who was involved.
Baltimore Mayor Jack Young also issued a statement in response to the video.
The video circulating of a Baltimore police sergeant being attacked while trying to do his job and make an appropriate arrest is a reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face on the job.
While we're all thankful that the sergeant was not seriously injured, the situation could have easily turned more dangerous.
Mayor Young says that BPD already has one individual in custody and that they are currently searching for others.
He strongly urges those individuals to surrender and ends by making it clear that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby also issued a statement.
I am disgusted by the blatant assault against the police officer in the video and my office will work with BPD to bring the perpetrators to justice.
I am also disappointed by the FOP’s continued inappropriate political rhetoric, fanning the very flames they then call on me to put out. Their responses are relentlessly divisive, and they seem to lose no opportunity to misplace blame.
Violence has no place, against anyone. Period.
The same sense of outrage, in this case, should be expressed by the leaders of the police union when their officers are convicted of attempted murder, assault, and unlawful arrest against citizens.
The same sense of outrage, in this case, should be expressed by the leaders of the police union when their officers are convicted of attempted murder, assault, and unlawful arrest against citizens.
Our city desperately deserves better and needs to move past such divisive rhetoric, and hypocritical finger-pointing. From day one, I have instructed my attorneys to apply one standard of justice to all and while that accountability may be a new standard for the police union, I will continue to hold everyone, regardless of one’s race, sex, religion, and occupation to the same standards of justice.
Our city needs unity; we will achieve that when people see that justice means justice and safety for all.
Late Saturday night Governor Larry Hogan added his statement to the bunch. Similar to the previously stated officials, he was also shocked and upset by what he saw.
Every single day, our police officers put their lives on the line to keep our neighborhoods safe, are the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency, and are the first line of defense for the public against any threat.
I am appalled and disgusted by the vile attack on a Baltimore City Police sergeant. We absolutely will not tolerate assault of any kind on any member of law enforcement. We will pursue and prosecute those who assaulted this officer to the fullest extent of the law.
Our administration is providing unprecedented state resources to combat the crime epidemic in Baltimore, but this requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. It is time we all stand together, and it is time city leaders and legislative leaders join our efforts to take our communities back.
