LAS VEGAS — A shocking incident involving a white campus officer kneeling on a Black student near a Las Vegas high school has recently come to light. The video of this incident drew comparisons to the tragic killing of George Floyd in 2020 and sparked accusations of police brutality after it went viral on social media. Let’s delve into the details of this distressing event and its aftermath.
A Campus Officer’s Controversial Actions
Under court order, the Clark County School District in Las Vegas has released police reports and body camera footage that shed light on the incident. According to the police reports, the incident took place when officers were investigating a report of a gun being brandished and a threat made to “shoot up” a school the previous day. A Black student, whose name has been redacted, refused to move away from officers who were handcuffing another student. It’s important to note that no weapon was found during the investigation.
Comparisons to the George Floyd Case
The actions of the white campus officer, Lt. Jason Elfberg, pinning the Black teen beneath his knee next to a patrol vehicle stirred public outrage. The incident drew immediate comparisons to the tragic killing of George Floyd. Calls for Elfberg’s firing and a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada forced school officials to release the body camera footage.
The Officer’s Defense
Adam Levine, Elfberg’s attorney, stated that his client, a 14-year police veteran, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the district and remains on the school police force. The incident report mentioned that the student was uncooperative and that Elfberg had to physically restrain him.
The Students’ Perspective
One student who was handcuffed during the encounter compared it to the killing of George Floyd. The video captured Elfberg yelling at a student who was recording the incident with his cellphone. The officer then twisted the student and brought him down to the ground forcefully. Onlookers expressed their concern, shouting that the officer shouldn’t keep the student on the ground in such a manner. The video ended with the student pleading for someone to call his mother.
The Release of Body Camera Footage
Following a judge’s order, the school district released the body camera footage of the incident that occurred near Durango High School in February 2023. The footage, which was over two hours long, was edited to blur faces and select scenes. The district initially argued that the records were confidential due to the age of the people involved but eventually complied with the court order.
The ACLU’s Response
The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the district for its reluctance to release the records and labeled it as “shameful.” They argued that the officers’ accounts of the incident were an attempt to avoid accountability for their actions. The ACLU, on behalf of the two students involved in the incident, has spent $50,000 on legal fees to obtain the records.
Calls for Further Investigation
During a press conference, the ACLU, along with other advocates, called for Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson to investigate the incident and potentially charge the officers involved with misconduct. However, Wolfson clarified that it is the responsibility of the police to investigate and collect evidence. He mentioned that he has previously prosecuted officers for various crimes but has not received a filing seeking prosecution in this particular case.
The Importance of Context
Adam Levine, Elfberg’s attorney, highlighted the dangers of drawing conclusions based solely on snippets of video viewed out of context. He argued that the body camera footage showed Elfberg defusing a potentially dangerous situation. Levine maintained that the video, when seen in its entirety, presents a different perspective.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding police conduct and racial disparities in law enforcement. It is essential to thoroughly investigate such incidents to ensure accountability and maintain public trust in the justice system.
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Source: NBC News