A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, police officer simply discovered himself on the opposite facet of the regulation after he was named considered one of two defendants in a federal lawsuit. However this isn’t the primary time Officer Marc Howell II’s use of drive has been questioned. In truth, simply final month he went viral for an altercation with a Black man.
Howell was caught on digital camera throughout St. Patrick’s Day weekend pushing an unidentified man twice as a shifting automobile drove by and practically struck him, in line with Penn Dwell. Police Lt. Kyle Gautsch later stated the sufferer had simply been in a struggle earlier than stepping into it with Howell. The person was amongst “a number of arrests” Gautsch stated, in line with Penn Dwell.
Nearly two years later, the identical officer has been implicated in a totally totally different scenario courting again to 2023. In keeping with WGAL, Travis Watkins filed a federal lawsuit final week alleging extreme drive by Harrisburg police. Howell, together with Officer Esteban Restrepo, are named as defendants.
It began when Watkins stated he was standing in entrance of his automobile when a struggle broke out close by, in line with the lawsuit. That’s when Restrepo and Howell allegedly intervened, making an attempt to interrupt up the struggle. Watkins stated he felt the cops had been utilizing an excessive amount of drive, so he shouted for them to “Ease up!” That’s when Howell turned his consideration to Watkins.
Watkins claimed Howell rushed at him, telling him to “again up” two seconds earlier than spraying him within the face with a chemical irritant spray. Watkins additionally claimed his fingers had been up, displaying he wasn’t a risk to the officers, and regardless of that, each Howell and Restrepo allegedly moved to arrest him anyway.
“Cease resisting,” Restrepo allegedly stated earlier than dragging Watkins by his dreadlocks. Ultimately, Watkins alleged the officers “tackled” him to the bottom, breaking considered one of his enamel. Most disturbingly, Watkins alleged the officers yelled “Tase him!” and “Shoot him!” earlier than inserting him in handcuffs and charging him with disorderly conduct, amongst different offenses.
“It’s unreasonable to mace somebody and never give them a possibility to step again any drive, any drive, than that which is cheap underneath the circumstances is extreme drive,” Leticia Chavez-Freed, an legal professional representing Watkins, stated. “And everyone have to be held accountable. Officers, residents, everyone.”