Family of teenage girl in California seeks answers after violent encounter with police
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CNN, KYMA/KECY) - A California family wants answers after they say their teenage daughter had a violent encounter with police last week.
The 17-year-old girl was arrested at a grocery store in the City of San Bernardino, and now, her family is asking for an independent investigation into what happened.
Video captured shows San Bernardino police officers arresting a teenage girl last Wednesday. The teen was then slammed to the ground.
On Sunday, the girl in the video, 17-year-old Erin, was joined by advocates and her family outside the police department to speak out against the officer's actions.
"I'm hurt everywhere. My head, my whole body. I'm not the same person I was," Erin expressed.
"Our understanding is I don't appreciate a male officer, with a 17-year-old child, with two female officers present, to handle my child like a piece of meat and slam her to the ground," said Christopher Cowser, Erin's father.
The arrest happened outside a Food For Less after school at around 2:00 p.m.
San Bernardino Police say the teen was being arrested for trespassing and attempting to fight others.
Police say while being handcuffed, the teen allegedly began pulling away from the officer, which is when the take down happened.
"This child was handcuffed and body slammed face first on hot cement. Her face is scarred permanently. Wrist dislocated, and what people don't know is that she was temporarily passed out unconscious on the ground," said Najee Ali, a community activist.
Erin's family claims she and her friends were attacked by another group of teens while in the store.
"You can hear in the video where her friends say they jumped on us. But she was the only one detained and I'm not okay because that grown man knocked my baby out," said Rhonda Taylor, Erin's grandmother.
Police confirmed the teen was taken to the hospital with a cut to her chin and scrapes to her cheek. The family also says Erin dislocated her wrist and had to have her wounds stitched up.
They are now demanding police to release body cam footage.
"I just want justice. That's it. She didn't deserve nothing that she had happen to her," said Tanya Brownridge, Erin's mother.
"15 years in the military and I got to come to see this. No that should never happen," Cowser expressed.
San Bernardino Police said any use of force incident goes through a thorough review, and this is no exception.
