Charlottesville's Police Chief held a press conference on Thursday to address allegations that officers had mistreated and discriminated against people sleeping in Market Street Park. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
Last Monday, according to the Daily Progress, local resident Deirdre Gilmore came forward during a council meeting with allegations regarding the police and unhoused people staying in the park. In one incident, she said an officer kicked a man, and in another, she said a Black man was arrested for trespassing while white people were allowed to stay in the park.
After reviewing body camera footage, neither the Commonwealth's Attorney nor the executive director of the Police Civilian Overview Board found violations of the law or policy.
On Thursday, Chief Michael Kochis held a press conference where he showed the footage. In the first video, from Sept. 12, officers are clearing out the park when a man sits down in a lawn chair and repeatedly refuses to leave, saying he can't get into the Salvation Army
MAN IN VIDEO: These are the terms. You're going to lock me up right now, because I ain't going nowhere, and the only way I'm going somewhere is if you lock me up. I'm going to be heard one way or another.
Kochis said he was arrested for trespassing, and during booking was also served with a separate warrant for violating his probation. In the second video, from Sept. 16, two officers walk around telling everyone to pack up and leave. They return to a man laying under a tent who fell back asleep after they spoke to him.
OFFICER 1: Sir. I need you to start packing your stuff up 'cause you have to leave the park.
The man doesn't respond at first, and the second officer gives three quick kicks to the bottom of the man's shoe, and tells him to –
OFFICER 2: Wake up.
Kochis said the man then packed up his things and left, as did the other people there. City Manager Samuel Sanders Jr. announced a week ago that he was lifting the park's 11 p.m. closing time. His office did not immediately respond to WMRA about how long that directive would last.
