Student speaks after confrontation with Fairfield police officer
For the first time since a viral video showed a Fairfield police officer hitting a teen in the head and pulling him by the hair on campus, 16-year-old Maurice Williams is speaking out. Velena Jones reports.
For the first time since a viral video showed a Fairfield police officer hitting a teen in the head and pulling him by the hair on campus, 16-year-old Maurice Williams is speaking out.
The Fairfield High School sophomore and his family said the incident has left him traumatized and fearful of returning to school.
WATCH HERE“I didn’t see her coming or anything like that,” Williams said in an interview with NBC Bay Area. “I just felt my hair getting pulled and I just felt my face getting hit. And I didn’t know it was an officer until I heard her yelling at me.”
Williams said he has not been the same since a viral video showed a Fairfield police officer hitting him and taking him to the ground on campus.
Fairfield police said officers were responding to a fight on campus and that after attempts to restrain him, the officer used “distraction strikes” to handcuff the teen.
But Williams’ family said he was never in a physical fight or hit anyone, and the officer’s actions crossed the line. His family said he was taken into custody then released without charges. The family also said the encounter has left emotional scars for the normally happy football player and big brother.
“I feel like that police officer took that joy away,” said Rhamesha Stevenson, Williams’ mom. “He’s not the same. He is not. But I’m going to make sure everything in my power to make sure he gets that joy back.”
The Williams family is also pointing to separate video showing the same officer pulling an 18-year-old woman from a car by her hair during a traffic stop last year. They are calling for policy changes, accountability and the officer’s badge.
“That just made me feel what happened to Maurice could’ve been worse,” said Will Williams, the teen’s father. “He could’ve been shot.”
Stevenson added she does not want the officer to work any type of law enforcement “or have any type of power over anyone at this point.”
Fairfield police said the officer has been administratively reassigned while an outside investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the district said it is focused on providing culturally response care for those processing what happened and safety is their highest priority.
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District also provided the following statement on Wednesday:
“As this is an active student matter and ongoing investigation, we are limited in what we are able to share at this time.
What we can confirm is that the school principal has been in communication with the student’s family.
FSUSD remains focused on providing culturally responsive care to all students and staff who are processing what happened. The safety, dignity, and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priorities, and we are committed to supporting our schools and wider community as we move forward together.
Out of respect for student privacy, we cannot comment further on specific disciplinary matters.”
Williams is questioning if he will feel safe to return to school.
“I think different about all the police, about school,” he said. “If I’m protected at the school.”
Fairfield police did not respond Wednesday to the claims made by the Williams family.