Community Joins Together To Support Man Shot, Paralyzed During Traffic Stop
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- His attorney and supporters say dashboard camera video proves that the numerous charges stacked against Leon Ford, Jr. should be thrown out in court.
On Tuesday night in Homewood, those supporters watched the 20-minute traffic stop filmed from the police cruiser's dashboard in its entirety.
"It's always a question of a person's word against a police officer's word," Brandi Fisher, with the Alliance for Police Accountability, said. "Very rarely have we had video to show exactly what happened."
The 19-year-old was pulled over by Zone 5 Pittsburgh Police officers last November after they say he went through two stop signs.
Police questioned Ford when they suspected he was another man, also named Ford.
When he wouldn't get out of his car, a scuffle ensued. The car took off and police fired five shots, leaving the now 20-year-old paralyzed.
Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented Trayvon Martin's family in the well-known Florida murder trial, was on hand in Homewood to lend support.
"We know when we look at the video that the police officers are lying," Crump said. "The only question is, does this young man have to face a prison term on top of him being shot and paralyzed."
RELATED LINKS:
Man Shot, Paralyzed During Traffic Stop Files Lawsuit (9/18/13)
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