Last edited Mon Oct 17, 2016, 12:42 PM - Edit history (1)
https://www.facebook.com/edinamn/posts/10154597615938659
October 14 at 2:06pm ·
A video of one of our police officers is circulating online. This incident started several minutes prior to the recording. During that time, our police officer observed a man walking southbound on Xerxes Avenue at West 60th Street in the southbound lane of traffic, though there is a sidewalk on the east side and a sidewalk under construction and a paved shoulder on the west side of the street. Recognizing the risk to the safety of the public, the officer pulled in behind the man with his lights and an audible signal in an attempt to advise him to get out of the roadway. The man, who was wearing headphones, turned and looked at the officer and continued walking in the lane of traffic. The officer then drove in front of the man by approximately 15 feet, to block him from continuing in the southbound lane of traffic. The man deliberately went around the squad car and continued to walk in the lane of traffic. The officer got out of his vehicle and started to follow the man, asking him to get out of the lane of traffic and stop. The man did not stop and was defiant. It was after that point that the recording began. The officer smelled alcohol on the man’s breath during the incident. A breathalyzer later confirmed the presence of alcohol.
As a bystander, it’s your right to film officer interactions. However, it’s important to note that attempting to interact with the officer and/or suspect creates a greater risk to the safety of the officer, suspect and bystanders. Public safety is our first priority. It makes it more difficult for officers to deal with the situation on hand when they are at the same time dealing with the distractions of bystanders.
For more information about this incident, contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610.
followed by:
October 16 at 6:35pm ·
City of Edina Mayor Jim Hovland recently released the following statement in response to a police incident that occurred Wednesday, Oct. 12:
Just before noon Oct. 12, an Edina Police Officer observed and stopped Larnie Thomas, who was walking in the lane of traffic on a busy city street. Thomas was detained at the scene. People across the country are expressing concern about how he was treated by the Edina Police.
Thomas was not taken to jail. He was driven to a local shopping mall at his request and released. The citation issued to Thomas will be dismissed.
The officer involved was following established protocol. However, under the circumstances, the City will review that protocol and determine how to better approach this type of incident with greater sensitivity in the future.
We will work with the Edina community and invite other organizations to participate in this very important conversation. There are lessons we should and will learn from this experience.
Somebody who claims to have seen the situation minutes before the filming:
https://www.facebook.com/CBSMinnesota/posts/10154712289078825?comment_id=10154713579278825&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D
= new reply since forum marked as read
