UPDATE: ECU Game, Police Excessive Force Investigation
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ECU Brutality Under Investigation
ECU Brutality Under Investigation
The big win has been marred by an after the game incident. That incident has several police departments and the school investigating claims that the police over reacted when jubilant students stormed the field. There are two incidents, specifically, that East Carolina University Police Chief Scott Shelton says they are investigating for claims of excessive force. The first one is where an officer is seen seemingly throwing punches. The other is an incident where an officer slams a person to the ground. Shelton says, celebration is not a crime and use of excessive force is unacceptable.
“There’s no denying what you saw on film was sickening in nature, now what we have to do is make sure that we do a thorough investigation and find out, not what the person did for him to be taken to the ground, but why the punches were thrown,” Shelton says.
Shelton did not disclose the law enforcement agencies being investigated for excessive force. He says it’s up to each individual department to deal with disciplinary action. ECU Police says the investigation will take a few days before they wrap up. They are taking complaints, calls, and looking at various videotapes. Lenoir County, Kinston and Pitt County Law Enforcement are all looking into it.
Previously Reported - Eyewitness News 9 Morning Edition
Unfortunately, ECU’s victory against West Virginia is being overshadowed, after an incident between fans and the police.
An investigation is underway to determine whether law enforcement officers used excessive force against fans after the Pirates’ big win.
Officials are sorting through facts, and there’s lots of video and complaints swirling around on the web.
However, many are agreeing on one thing, officers took things too far.
An ESPN video shows one incident where an officer is seemingly throwing punches.
In a statement from the university, they say they are interviewing several witnesses about different accounts and looking at pictures and video tapes to sort out exactly what happened.
Meanwhile, the Kinston Department of Public Safety has initiated an investigation into the events surrounding the incident.
Officials say the investigation will be thorough, and will include the actions of the officers and events leading up to the confrontation.
We would also like to hear from you. Do you think law enforcement officers were justified in their actions following ECU’s win over West Virginia Saturday?
The web poll can be found below or on our home page.
Associated Press Article——————————————————————————
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Police officials at East Carolina University are investigating reports that officers used excessive force as fans stormed the football field after a Pirate victory.
University police chief Scott Shelton said investigators are reviewing photos and videotape and interviewing witnesses.
The Daily Reflector in Greenville reported Monday that witnesses described police hitting fans and throwing some to the ground after the Pirates beat West Virginia on Saturday.
Video footage showed an officer hitting someone on the ground with his fist.
Shelton said in a written statement that police were told if fans tried to come onto the field they should try to deter them by making themselves visible but were to step back if that failed.
Original Press Release from John Durham Executive Director of University Communications
East Carolina University officials are investigating complaints of unnecessary force exercised by law enforcement officers as thousands of people stormed the field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Saturday to celebrate the Pirates’ win over West Virginia University.
ECU Police Chief Scott Shelton said university officers are interviewing witnesses and analyzing photos and videotapes. The complaints are varied and include assertions that officers punched a fan and threw another to the ground. Shelton said, “Preliminary investigation indicates excessive force was used in an incident of most concern by complainants.”
ECU police are assisted at home football games by officers from a number of jurisdictions, including the City of Greenville, Pitt County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Kinston, and Lenoir County. Shelton said he will meet Monday with Greenville Police Chief Bill Anderson to seek his assistance in the investigation.
Shelton said that at a briefing before the game, all officers were told that if ECU won the game and fans attempted to come onto the field, officers should try to deter them by making themselves visible. But if that failed, he said, officers were instructed to step back and focus on making sure that those on the field stayed safe.
“Obviously, the safety of the students, fans and athletes at the game is our first concern,” Shelton said. “It is simply unacceptable that anyone at a game is the victim of excessive force.”
Shelton said he hopes to have at least a preliminary report on the complaints within a day or two.
Click Here to read A Message From Terry Holland about the brutalities reported.
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Reader Reactions
I have just finished reviewing some of the video that has been shown of the ECU/WVU game and the ‘alleged’ assault by the LEO.
First of all, we do not know what happened prior to the incident that we see the LEO ‘allegedly’ assaulting an individual. We do not know if the LEO in question was assaulted himself, if the person was drunk or on crack or yielded a weapon. Who are we to be judge, jury and executioner on events that are 1.obscured by poor video and 2. we do not have all the facts in hand.
Second, all the so called ‘fans’ were warned about NOT STORMING the field. This to me shows the lack of respect these so called ‘fans’ have not only for ECU, but for Greenville, Pitt County and college football in general. I believe each ‘fan’ who stormed the field should be charged with trespassing on private property; which in sense is what the football field is. No one has the right to be on that field unless they are directly connected to the game, period. Law enforcement did not cause this fiasco. Every student and non-student fan, intoxicated or not, caused this and should be held accountable for their actions as well.
Third, I keep hearing statements about how LE is suppose to protect and serve. Yes, that is their job, but let me ask you this. How do you protect and serve against a mob of drunken and non-drunken fans who storm a field and out number you at least 10-1? I believe they were in the right to protect those who had a valid purpose to be on that field. Would you want them to do no less if someone trespassed onto your property?
Our Law Enforcement agencies have a tough enough time doing their job because they are put under the microscope for everything they do. They can not perform their job as they should be able to with out someone claiming ‘foul’. Its no wonder that crime is like it is in Greenville and surrounding areas because they have their hands tied behind their backs.
So, in closing, Id like to say let us not be to rash to pass judgment on our LEO’s. Let the facts get collected and processed first. Let us also not forget the other factors involved in the ‘alleged’ incident: the fans storming the field after being given strict orders not to do so. We need to be supporting our LE community not only when we need them, but the few times when we don’t.
Thank you
Zero punches should have been thrown unless a student DIRECTLY assaulted or threatened an officer. And jazzyd51, your one to talk about people being ignorant. Your grammer is that of a 2nd grader, and where did you/your parents go to college? Did you even go? Keep ignorant comments to yourself unless you want to considered ignorant…
I was shocked at what happened after the WVU game with the fans and police. It has been a long standing tradition of ECU fans to rush the field after a big game and join in the celebration of the win and sing the fight song. And now b/c of a few law officers, who deemed it necessary to use excessive force, the only people who are going to suffer are the future fans of ECU. The ones who are not going to be able to experience the tradition b/c it will have too many repercussions. And that is a shame!
This makes me physically ill. And no, it is not the first time cops have harassed students - I’ve had personal experiences in which the cops were completely out of line. Granted, I didn’t have the crap kicked out of me, but who’s to say it couldn’t happen again?
jazzyd51 - My guess is you go to WVU? It would explain the atrocious grammar/spelling, and lack of intelligent expression. It would also explain why you’d side with the cops when what they did was clearly wrong, and why you assume that all ECU fans are a bunch of drunks. Word to the wise - if you sound like you have (and I’m being generous here) a 5th grade education, and you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, just keep your ignorant and ill-founded notions to yourself.
Oh, I’m sorry. Let me write it in terms you’ll understand: You is an idiot.
I have already sent an earlier response to the negative image some “rambo style” law enforcement officers gave ECU because the fans wanted to celebrate on the field but I wanted to comment what other schools Terry Holland knows about and how they handle this situation in a positive manner.
Big game with possible big win means extra security to get the opposing team, and the coaches off the field safely and INVEST in the same type of collapsible goal posts many other colleges have. If we are planning to be a super winning team going after the big boys. It cheaper to have collapsible goal posts, secure the visiting team and coaches instead of beating and collapsing the students/fans and bringing on possible lawsuits. Excited, happy and celebrating fans draw more positive interest in people wanting to be part of the ECU Pirate Club and become season ticket holders.
Sadly this is not the first incident of police using excess force on students in Greenville, this time it just happened to be caught on video. I’m the parent of a fourth year student at ECU and my child has complained for several years about the police harrassing students and using excessive tactics in the downtown area. I’m glad it is finally coming to the attention of others.
Even though it has been 25+ years since ECU graduation - I still remember running onto the ECU field after some huge victory like this when I was in school and no I was not drunk. Excited and happy - yes!! Take a good look at the pages of The Daily Reflector - does the picture of Johnathan Willaims surrounded by fans look scared or happy and excited with celebration? When things like beating students happen with force it makes it tough to think and wonder am I only a Pirate Club financial donor for the money to ECU or not for the pride and excitement of being an ECU Pirate Fan?
Yeah, the students should have heeded the warnings not to rush the field, and the police were justified to push students back that were climbing the fence. But once the students did rush the field, the police should have just stepped back and only intervened if it looked like someone was going to be physically harmed. I was watching from the stands and did not see any reason for the police to use the force they did on the field. Slamming and punching students? All of this just tarnishes ECU’s victory.
jazzyd51 you are so obviously an uneducated person who is totally clueless! Please learn how to express yourself a little more clearly. The cops were told before the game to be visible but if fans rushed the field they should let them but make sure they are SAFE. If I were a cop I would be disgusted that a few officers choose to represent LEO in that way.
This is unacceptable no matter what the kid did. A cop should be held at a higher standard that normal citizens and because of that should conduct himself in a respectable manner in all situations. Those involved obviously don’t have what it takes to be a LEO and should be immediately stripped of their badge and brought up on charges so that a jury can decide what to do!!
If any normal citizen would have behaved that way they would be tazed and restrained immediately.
This whole thing is for the students and the fans who pay for the whole thing. Did someone forget that is where the millions of dollars come from? I hope they get everyone’s statement and prosecute everyone who was abusive and everyone who lies or tries to cover it up.
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