VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera addressed an investigation that has drawn some criticism from the public on Monday. What’s been termed as a “Use of Force” incident that occurred during the arrest of a 17-year-old in January, was recorded by the driver of the vehicle, who later uploaded it to her Facebook page.
The video has now been viewed online nearly two million times.
According to sister station WTKR, on Jan. 10, Courtney Griffith, 18, says she was driving while her 17-year-old friend Brandon was sitting in the backseat of her car. She was pulled over by the Virginia Beach Police for a broken license plate light, but the officer told the two teens to get out of the car because he smelled marijuana. At that point, Griffith began to record the incident.
In the video, while keeping her hands on the steering wheel as instructed, and calling the officer “sir,” Griffith questioned why they were being investigated during the routine traffic stop.
“Sir, can you explain it to me now?” she continues to ask. “Am I being detained? Am I under arrest?
“So I’m being detained for what?”
The officer replies, “For the smell of marijuana in your car.”
“What smell of marijuana? Marijuana is not allowed in my vehicle,” she replies.
An argument ensues as the two teens are asked to get out of the car. As Griffith begins to tell her passenger, “It’s on video,” he is pepper sprayed by an officer.
They continue to spray him as he screams, “Stop. Stop it now. I’m telling my mother. I’m 17-years-old.”
He is then tased and forced out of the vehicle.
Cervera said at his press conference Monday that the two officers involved in the arrest are being investigated. He supported the use of pepper spray during the incident – not the use of the Taser.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has already reviewed the case and determined that there was no evidence of a crime.
Police found more than five ounces of marijuana and a scale in the car, according to Pilot Online.
