MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police abusing citizens does not happen every day – even against those who regularly bend, if not break, the law. In fact, I honestly believe abuse is a rare occurrence. But when it does happen, and is caught on tape, it exposes the worse from what is noble public service. And we witnessed a prime example of the worse in police work in a startling report by Local 24 News’ Jeni Diprizio.
The body camera footage obtained by Local 24 News is from a January 2019 incident at a gas station and convenience store in Memphis. Police officer William Skelton encountered a neighborhood troublemaker who had been told to stay away from the store. What happened next was not just poor police work – it was outright police abuse.
Skelton is seen on tape verbally abusing the suspect with language that would make a drunken sailor blush. Before long, the abuse turns physical when Skelton sprays pepper foam in the handcuffed suspect’s face four times for refusing to stop kicking the door of the squad car. Then he and other officers create more serious charges – including felony vandalism – to justify the abuse.
The suspect ended up spending 150 day in jail. But Skelton resigned after being charged internally with excessive force.
All of this is why police reform is so necessary. As I said, abuse does not happen all the time. But one time is too many. And that’s my point of view.
Watch the full bodycam footage below. Warning: video contains graphic language: