Police release bodycam video in connection with arrest at Walden Galleria
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — WIVB News 4 is getting a first look at bodycam footage from Cheektowaga police showing an arrest of a Buffalo man at the Walden Galleria last week.
The video, which you will see Only on 4, became the subject of a use of force review by the department after a woman was forcibly shoved by an officer during the arrest of her boyfriend.
A struggle broke out between police and the suspect and multiple officers were needed to get the man into custody.
“Force was used by our officers, every case where we have used force, it went through a review within the department and what we found was that our officers used the minimum level of force they needed to effect the arrest,” said Captain Jeffrey Schmidt of Cheektowaga Police.
It all started with a dispute over a phone at a kiosk in the mall. The suspect in the video, Lonnie Carr, Jr., is accused of damaging the kiosk and threatening the clerk. When officers attempted to get him into custody, he resisted.
Video from the body cameras show Carr’s girlfriend coming into frame appearing to try to calm Carr down, but she is instead forcibly shoved to the floor by an officer. Natashia Houston said she doesn’t think it was necessary.
“I’m 130 pounds soaking wet and I wasn’t trying to do anything, wasn’t trying to push nobody, I wasn’t touching nobody, I was the only one getting touched so I just feel that wasn’t warranted,” Houston said. “For that, it was just surprising, shocking, I don’t really know what to say about it.”
WIVB News 4 showed the video to a retired Buffalo Police captain for his take on what happened.
“I think the officer’s actions were justified. In situations where officers are involved in some sort of skirmish, trying to get somebody into custody, we’ve seen many videos where the crowd attacks the officers,” said retired police captain Jeff Rinaldo.
“The key takeaway from this is you have to stay away from those situations. It’s one thing to be vocal, but as you start to encroach on that space, officers are going to ensure that they are maintaining an appropriate level of distance between the bystander and the situation at hand.”
Rinaldo also said the officers did a good job getting Carr’s hands under control.
He faces multiple charges, including spitting at an officer. Houston said she suffered some back pain as a result of the shove. Cheektowaga Police said no wrongdoing was found from their officers during that arrest.
Cheektowaga Police said Houston could have been charged with obstruction, but after further investigation that did not happen.
“Afterwards they investigated a little further and they were told, well, I was trying to help you, the officers can appreciate that fact, but they still need people to listen to their commands and stay back when they’re trying to work,” Schmidt said.
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Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.
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