New questions surround Fairfield police officer’s actions seen in viral videos
New videos have surfaced involving an officer seen in previous viral footage taking down a student in Fairfield. Jodi Hernandez reports.
New videos have surfaced involving an officer seen in previous viral footage taking down a student in Fairfield.
The fallout comes after students and parents rallied last week over what they say is excessive use of force.
WATCH HEREVideo that went viral last week shows a police officer hitting a student in the face multiple times while police responded to a fight at Fairfield High School. Another video that recently surfaced shows the same officer pulling an 18-year-old girl out of a vehicle by the hair during a traffic stop last July.
“It’s ridiculous that we have an officer with a badge that operates in this kind of way and this kind of manner,” said Berry Accius, a community advocate.
The police officer used similar tactics on the high school student last week by pulling the 16-year-old student’s hair.
“She shouldn’t be on the force,” said Andrew Holiman, a rapper in Fairfield.
Holiman was outraged when he saw what happened to the Fairfield High School teen and he immediately recognized the officer.
“Watching the video I noticed it was the officer I had an encounter with myself,” he said.
Holiman said he and his friends were shooting a music video in his apartment complex parking lot when the same officer along with nine others came rushing in accusing them of breaking cars. He said the officer approached them very aggressively, making them sit on the curb as police searched their car.
When Holiman asked for the officer’s badge number she refused.
Police determined Holiman and his friends weren’t breaking the law and ended up releasing the men. But when Holiman saw what happened to the student he knew he had to speak out.
“I just felt like being a part of the community is to show that this is a pattern for this officer — she’s violent,” he said. “She’s reckless.”
NBC Bay Area reached out to the Fairfield Police Department for comment on the videos that have surfaced since last week’s incident at Fairfield High School. The police chief said the officer involved has been administratively reassigned and an outside investigation will take place.
Meanwhile, another protest about the officer’s actions is scheduled Tuesday at Fairfield City Hall.