After a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer received backlash last month, an internal investigation started. He has now been disciplined.
On Tuesday afternoon, the announcement was made following footage from body-worn cameras being publicized. An investigation found that CMPD Ofc. Vincent Pistone did use excessive force.
The matter stemmed from 17 blows being delivered to the leg of a woman, named as Christina Pierre, as officers tried to apprehend her.
In the decision-making, it was found that that the first three hits were effective because it allowed officers to place Pierre’s hands behind her back. However, Officer Pistone still hit the woman’s leg 14 more times. Those strikes were found to be unjustified.
Now, Pistone has been issued a 40-hour suspension and will have to enroll in additional training.
On Tuesday, more than 30 recordings from body cams and street cameras were released. It showed various details, such as Pierre and Anthony Lee outside of a Bojangles on November 13 all the way until the apprehensions.
In one recording, two officers are observed walking up to Pierre and Lee at a bus stop near the Bojangles restaurant. They then questioned the pair about smoking weed.
Pierre had stated that she had purchased the cigarette at a smoke shop.
A few minutes later, Pierre and Lee were detained with them questioning why. However, officers didn’t provide them with an explanation.
The couple both struggled with officers and were brought to the ground.
Another body cam revealed officers rushing in as assistance while Pierre and Lee were still on the ground.
To add, one recording depicts an officer knee and punch Pierre continuously as she was on the ground.
Many witnesses recorded the apprehension. Their recordings show an officer punch and kick Pierre multiple times, aiming at a certain nerve in order to make her comply.
Even though the police department stated that what Pierre was smoking tested positive for marijuana, her lawyers say that the couple was smoking a legal substance called THCA.
Almost two weeks ago, the charges against Pierre and Lee were dismissed.
Suspensuon, that spund more like “Attemoted Murder”!!wow
The officer needs to suffer those sames blows that she and he jad to endured over something that was legal to do amd need to lose there jobs. #letjusticering
Do to the police what they do to this lady
Stop suspending them when they need to be fired for doing wrong.