Dekalb IL police department opened an excessive use of force investigation after a video surfaced on social media shows an officer choking out a man.
25-year-old Elonte McDowell was placed in a tight choke hold last week and tased by white police officers over marijuana.
McDowell’s girlfriend, Alyssa Retuerto, captured the Aug. 24 arrest on video and posted it to Facebook with the caption, “For you guys to decide. Right or wrong?” Retuerto can be heard pleading with the officers in the video, asking why they needed to use a Taser while McDowell was pinned to the ground and in a choke hold.
Via abc7chicago
Elonte McDowell admits he illegally possessed cannabis and should be held accountable, but he also believes the officers who arrested him should be held accountable for their use of force. "This is what some police officers do and you have to put a stand on it," he said. McDowell is still shaken up, and the marks made when DeKalb police tased him are still healing. His girlfriend recorded the now-viral video showing him on the ground as police arrested him. "He has a pulse right?" she cries in the video. "Can you guys make sure he has a pulse, 'cause look at his face." "If your fellow officer or fellow mate is doing something incorrect you need to be like, Hey! You guys just tased him or you're choking him. Stop that," McDowell said. Acting on a tip McDowell had marijuana, officers pulled him over on Annie Glidden Road near Lincoln Highway. In a statement, the DeKalb Police Department said a "felony amount of cannabis was found," and "McDowell attempted to flee...Officers attempted to restrain McDowell, who continued to resist." The statement continued, "The DeKalb Police Department is reviewing all available video footage and statements regarding the use of force in this incident." "It's not OK," McDowell said. "It needs to get out there. It happened one too many times. This happens every day." Four years ago Illinois passed a law banning excessive force like a chokehold in specific situations. An investigation by Illinois State Police is ongoing. The DeKalb officer involved has been temporarily reassigned during the investigation.