An Arizona State University professor who is facing charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest says that police used excessive force in slamming her to the ground during an encounter.
On May 20, Ersula Ore, an English professor, was stopped by university police near the ASU campus. Police said Ore was stopped because she was walking in the middle of the street and refused to provide ID, and that she later kicked an officer in the shin after they had her handcuffed, according to the Associated Press. Ore claimed she was walking in the street to get around construction.
Now, dashboard video of Ore's interaction with Officer Stewart Ferrin, showing Ore being physically forced down to the pavement, is attracting attention as she claims police used excessive force.
Video released to KTVK (above) shows part of the exchange between Ferrin and Ore:
Ferrin: "Let me see your ID or you will be arrested for failing to provide ID."
Ore: "Are you serious?"
Ferrin: "Yes, I am serious. That is the law."
In the video, Ore can be heard saying she has no problem following the law, but protesting that Ferrin is speaking to her in a disrespectful manner.
Ore: "I never once saw a single solitary individual get pulled over by a cop for walking across a street on a campus, in a campus location. Everybody has been doing this because it is all obstructed. That's the reason why. But you stop me in the middle of the street to pull me over and ask me, 'Do you know what this is? This is a street.'"
Ferrin: "Are you aware that this is a street?"
Ore: "Let me finish."
Ferrin: "OK, put your hands behind your back."
The officer appears to swing Ore in a circle before forcing her to the ground as Ore yells for the officer to stop touching her.
At least one person called 911 and said an officer was getting "way too aggressive" with Ore, according to a tape obtained by KTVK.
Ore was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, refusing to provide identification when requested to do so by an officer and obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare.
ASU did not respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post. The school told KTVK, "ASU authorities have reviewed the circumstances surrounding the arrest and have found no evidence of inappropriate actions by the ASUPD officers involved. Should such evidence be discovered, an additional, thorough inquiry will be conducted and appropriate actions taken."
The Arizona Ethnic Studies Network believes this incident may be connected to racial profiling, and is criticizing ASU for not undertaking a full investigation of the incident with Ore, who is black.
"In a state and metropolitan region in which racial profiling has been proven to be widespread, the ASU administration's lack of concern for the well-being of an ASU community member of color is unacceptable," the Arizona Ethnic Studies Network said in a statement.
Ore did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post.
A petition on MoveOn.org with more than 2,800 signatures is calling on campus police to drop the charges and issue an apology.
On May 20, Ersula Ore, an English professor, was stopped by university police near the ASU campus. Police said Ore was stopped because she was walking in the middle of the street and refused to provide ID, and that she later kicked an officer in the shin after they had her handcuffed, according to the Associated Press. Ore claimed she was walking in the street to get around construction.
Now, dashboard video of Ore's interaction with Officer Stewart Ferrin, showing Ore being physically forced down to the pavement, is attracting attention as she claims police used excessive force.
Video released to KTVK (above) shows part of the exchange between Ferrin and Ore:
Ferrin: "Let me see your ID or you will be arrested for failing to provide ID."
Ore: "Are you serious?"
Ferrin: "Yes, I am serious. That is the law."
In the video, Ore can be heard saying she has no problem following the law, but protesting that Ferrin is speaking to her in a disrespectful manner.
Ore: "I never once saw a single solitary individual get pulled over by a cop for walking across a street on a campus, in a campus location. Everybody has been doing this because it is all obstructed. That's the reason why. But you stop me in the middle of the street to pull me over and ask me, 'Do you know what this is? This is a street.'"
Ferrin: "Are you aware that this is a street?"
Ore: "Let me finish."
Ferrin: "OK, put your hands behind your back."
The officer appears to swing Ore in a circle before forcing her to the ground as Ore yells for the officer to stop touching her.
At least one person called 911 and said an officer was getting "way too aggressive" with Ore, according to a tape obtained by KTVK.
Ore was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, refusing to provide identification when requested to do so by an officer and obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare.
ASU did not respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post. The school told KTVK, "ASU authorities have reviewed the circumstances surrounding the arrest and have found no evidence of inappropriate actions by the ASUPD officers involved. Should such evidence be discovered, an additional, thorough inquiry will be conducted and appropriate actions taken."
The Arizona Ethnic Studies Network believes this incident may be connected to racial profiling, and is criticizing ASU for not undertaking a full investigation of the incident with Ore, who is black.
"In a state and metropolitan region in which racial profiling has been proven to be widespread, the ASU administration's lack of concern for the well-being of an ASU community member of color is unacceptable," the Arizona Ethnic Studies Network said in a statement.
Ore did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post.
A petition on MoveOn.org with more than 2,800 signatures is calling on campus police to drop the charges and issue an apology.
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