Audio Recordings Released From Clairton Teen's Alleged Altercation With Police
CLAIRTON (KDKA) -- There are new details about a Clairton teenager hospitalized after she violated curfew.
She says police used excessive force, and now new audio recordings from that night that been released.
A bystander used a cell phone to record the incident along Miller Avenue on Tuesday night.
It's a small glimpse into the events that unfolded after 17-year-old Merceedez Wright violated the city's 10 p.m. curfew and got into a reportedly violent scuffle with police that landed her in Children's Hospital.
Wright says she was trying to walk away from an ice cream shop when the situation quickly escalated between her and three other Clairton officers.
"I was scared because of how he got out of the car," said Wright. "He didn't just walk out; he just jumped out the car and started chasing me, so my first instinct was to run from him."
Wright says she was slammed to the ground by a male and female officer, and then kicked and punched repeatedly.
Her mother, Audelia Amoah, says video surveillance she's obtained from cameras at the American Legion across the street shows some of the alleged events.
An attorney viewing the case has asked that the media not show the video yet.
Amoah says she believes the Clairton Police Department used unnecessary force for a curfew violation.
"They were like, 'She assaulted a police officer.' And the woman cop was saying, 'She broke my hand.' And I'm like what's going on here," said Amoah.
Officials with the City of Clairton issued a press release Thursday evening with details of the incident.
The release from Howard J. Bednar, the city's manager and finance director, reads in part:
"One juvenile resisted with violence and with screaming profanities at the officers. She was charged and handcuffed. During a scuffle with the juvenile, one of the arresting officers, a female Clairton Police officer about the same height and weight as the juvenile was injured, requiring emergency room medical treatment. The Clairton Police Department is continuing to collect evidence after which time the City will have a more detailed and complete report available and the City will request that the Allegheny County District Attorney's office conduct an investigation of this incident."
UPDATE: Surveillance video from American Legion released.
Watch it here:
RELATED LINKS:
Clairton Teen Seriously Injured In Alleged Scuffle With Police Over Curfew Violation (7/16/14)
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