“According to court records, law enforcement sources and the video, the encounter started in front of 1311 St. John’s Place at 2:20 a.m. when three anti-crime officers spotted the 6-foot-2 teen peering into the window of parked mini-van,” huffingtonpost.com reports. “When the officers got out of their car to approach Tribble, he allegedly tossed away a small black canvas bag and took off running. The officers — one with his gun drawn — gave chase, concerned that the suspect had a weapon, sources said. Shortly thereafter . .
Tribble slows down and stops and appears prepared to be arrested. But an officer, identified as Tyrane Isaac, rushes up to him and takes a swing at his head.
The teen ducks the blow and then can be seen retreating — with his hands up — to a storefront gate.
Officer David Afanador — his gun drawn — then catches up and rushes straight to Tribble, hitting him in the his face with his gun, breaking a front tooth and chipping another.
On the video, Afanador then holsters his weapon and retraces his steps to retrieve the canvas bag, leaving Isaacs to put the cuffs on Tribble.
But before he does, Isaac punches Tribble again and pushes him onto his stomach.
The video ends with Afanador waving the bag in front of Tribble’s face before smacking him with it.
A third officer, identified as Christopher Mastoros, can be seen taking no action to help Tribble.
Gun drawn because . . . ? Investigation, suspension, prior accusations, yada yada yada. Oh and union prevarication . . .
Patrick Lynch, the police union president, said the tape does not tell the entire tale.
“As usual, the video fails to capture the offense that resulted in police action or the lengthy foot pursuit that culminated in the arrest,” he said.
“Situations like this one happen in real time under great stress. It’s very easy to be judgmental in the comfort of an office while sitting in front of a video screen.”
Yes. Yes it is.