UPDATE: ECU Game, Police Excessive Force 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.