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Phoenix mayor apologises after police threaten to shoot black family | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The mayor of the US city of Phoenix has apologised after a video allegedly showing police threatening to shoot a black family went viral. | The mayor of the US city of Phoenix has apologised after a video allegedly showing police threatening to shoot a black family went viral. |
Officers were responding to an alleged shoplifting incident last month when the video was recorded. | Officers were responding to an alleged shoplifting incident last month when the video was recorded. |
Police officers can be seen shouting at the family to get out of their vehicle before threatening them. | |
The parents say they did not realise their four-year-old had taken a $1 (£0.79) Barbie doll from a store. | |
Mayor Kate Gallego said the officers' actions were "completely inappropriate and clearly unprofessional". | Mayor Kate Gallego said the officers' actions were "completely inappropriate and clearly unprofessional". |
Ms Gallego said in a statement: "There is no situation in which this behaviour is ever close to acceptable. As a mother myself, seeing these children placed in such a terrifying situation is beyond upsetting. | Ms Gallego said in a statement: "There is no situation in which this behaviour is ever close to acceptable. As a mother myself, seeing these children placed in such a terrifying situation is beyond upsetting. |
"I am deeply sorry for what this family went through and I apologise to our community." | "I am deeply sorry for what this family went through and I apologise to our community." |
She said that the city was speeding up the implementation of body-worn cameras. A community meeting about the incident will also be held on Tuesday. | She said that the city was speeding up the implementation of body-worn cameras. A community meeting about the incident will also be held on Tuesday. |
In the video, Iesha Harper can be seen emerging from the car with her two young children. The children are handed to a bystander and Ms Harper is arrested. | |
The footage also shows another man, Dravon Ames, being kicked in the legs as he is handcuffed by an officer. | |
The couple are preparing to sue the city for $10 million over the incident. | |
Rapper Jay Z's Roc Nation company has offered the pair legal support. | |
Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy Dania Diaz said in a statement: "We are calling for the immediate termination of the police officers in question. We are committed to supporting the family to ensure justice is served." | |
Ms Harper, who is pregnant, told CNN: "I really thought he was going to shoot me in front of the kids." | Ms Harper, who is pregnant, told CNN: "I really thought he was going to shoot me in front of the kids." |
She said that she gave her two children to a bystander as she "didn't trust the police". | She said that she gave her two children to a bystander as she "didn't trust the police". |
Phoenix police chief Jeri Williams said on local news that she was "sorry this incident happened" and that it was being investigated. | Phoenix police chief Jeri Williams said on local news that she was "sorry this incident happened" and that it was being investigated. |
The officers involved have been assigned desk duty while the investigation takes place. | The officers involved have been assigned desk duty while the investigation takes place. |