Black woman who was stopped by Chicago Police officer while walking her dog says she was racially profiled
An incident between a woman walking her dog and a Chicago police officer is being investigated after a witness' video showing the unidentified officer grabbing the woman's arm went viral Sunday. The woman, who has been identified by her attorneys as Nikkita Brown, called 911 and said she was racially profiled, CBS Chicago reports.
The bystander video shows Brown walking her dog on the beach around midnight. Her attorneys, from Saulter Law P.C., say the officer approached her because the beach closes at 11 p.m.
Brown, who is Black, was not the only person on the beach, her attorneys say. She saw other people, who were White, walking in the distance, according to CBS Chicago.
When he approached her, Brown began filming the officer, who she said turned on his body camera.
In her own video, Brown is heard asking the officer to step back because he doesn't have a mask on. "Please respect my face. It's COVID. Six feet," she says. The officer says he doesn't need a mask because he is outside and he attempts to cuff Brown.
Brown's attorneys say the officer tried to tackle her. The bystander video shows Brown screaming as the officer grabs at her arms. Her phone falls out of her hands as the officer tries to restrain her. Attorneys say her shoes also fell off during the tussle. The whole time, Brown was holding onto her dog's leash.
Eventually, the officer stops and they both walk away. The video went viral Sunday on Twitter and the Chicago Police Department and the independent Civilian Office of Police Accountability both said they are aware of it.
COPA on Monday said in a statement that it has recommended the officer in the video be relieved of his police powers or placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
"COPA has obtained and reviewed the body worn camera video of the involved Chicago Police officer engaging the woman as she walks her dog as a part of its investigation," the statement added. "COPA Investigators also canvassed the scene of the incident which occurred Saturday morning, August 28, 2021 and identified several additional video cameras in the area that may have captured the incident. Requests to obtain those videos are pending."
Brown's lawyer said she suffered emotional trauma.
Chicago Police declined to comment.
