Community Group Screens Dash Cam Video Of Brothers' Arrest In Homewood
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Members of the Alliance for Police Accountability say the dash cam video tells the whole story.
They say the incident, which happened over the summer, proves that Pittsburgh police officers - specifically out of Zone 5 - acted inappropriately.
"They were doing absolutely nothing wrong and end up assaulted, and now facing assault charges on a police officer," said Brandi Fisher, of the Alliance for Police Accountability.
The footage shows brothers, 18-year-old Beyshaud El and 21-year-old Will El, being arrested in Homewood.
An officer used a Taser at one point during the situation. Fisher says that was unnecessary and excessive.
"These young men, who did nothing but walk to the corner store and were walking home, had no weapons, no criminal history, no drugs," said Fisher.
Both men were charged with aggravated assault.
Pittsburgh Police have defended their actions. They say one of the brothers tried to punch an officer.
Members of the alliance, who gathered Monday night to review the video, disagree and say this is just another example of what has become a pattern of police abuse and racial profiling in Homewood.
"We are here to ask the D.A. to do the right thing and drop the charges against these young men, but also to charge Officer Welling with assault," said Fisher.
The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office has not received a request to drop the charges against the El brothers.
Their non-jury trial is expected to start next week.
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