PITTSBURGH — Activist groups are calling for transparency after video surfaced of Pittsburgh officers arresting a man on the North Side.
The arrest happened during the early morning hours on December 29th, according to a Public Safety spokesperson, who said the matter is under review.
On Friday, Pittsburgh’s NAACP and B-PEP sent a letter to Pittsburgh leaders, stating that the footage “presents an interaction that appears to be significantly more excessive and aggressive than necessary.” The groups are demanding more information surrounding the circumstances that led up to the interaction.
An included link to the video shows a man, identified as Devlon Pridgen, on the ground, as several officers arrest him.
A female filming can be heard screaming “he isn’t resisting” while claiming that Pridgen was unarmed. Officers are later heard repeatedly demanding that Pridgen put his arms behind his back, implying that he was resisting.
Photographs of Pridgen were provided in the groups’ letter, showing him with a bloodied face.
William Anderson, Chair of the Allegheny Democratic Black Caucus is also demanding answers from public officials. He told Channel 11 that he has been in touch with Pridgen.
“He is hurt physically, emotionally, he’s a father of eight. He called me crying... He was just overwhelmed.”
Anderson, however, does not know what led up to the encounter.
A statement from Public Safety says that leadership is “aware of the use of force,” adding “any accusation of improper conduct is taken seriously, and will be thoroughly investigated.”
Leaders have not said what prompted the arrest. At last check, Pridgen had not been charged in relation to the incident.
Channel 11 has learned that the Citizen Police Review Board is also looking into the arrest.
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