Current:Home > InvestSafeX Pro:'He just punched me': Video shows combative arrest of Philadelphia LGBTQ official, husband -Visionary Wealth Guides
SafeX Pro:'He just punched me': Video shows combative arrest of Philadelphia LGBTQ official, husband
Oliver James Montgomery View
Date:2025-04-10 18:54:24
Two prominent LGBTQ advocates in Philadelphia were arrested Saturday including a city official in an incident the mayor has called "concerning".
Video shows Celena Morrison,SafeX Pro the city of Philadelphia's executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs and her husband, Darius McLean — an executive at a LGBTQ community center — being arrested after being pulled over for what Pennsylvania State Police alleged were "multiple Vehicle Code violations."
Morrison, 51, was appointed to her position in 2020, making her the first openly transgender person to lead a department in the city.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the video of the incident, "is very concerning to me" but had no further comment until the investigation was completed. She declined requests for comment from reporters who approached her about the subject on Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Neither Morrison or McClean have been charged by the Philadelphia District Attorney, according to the Inquirer.
An internal investigation into the incident has begun, according to a State Police spokesperson.
What does the video show?
The video, recorded by Morrison, shows McClean on the ground in the shoulder of I-76.
"Do you want to get tased? Put your hands behind your back." the officer shouts.
"OK! They are!” McLean says.
"That is my husband! Please!" Morrison yells.
"It’s OK, baby, it’s OK ... I don’t know why he’s doing this," McLean says.
Morrison then attempts to approach the officer causing the officer to aggressively direct her to step back.
"Please just stop. It’s because I’m Black." McClean says.
The officer responds, "It’s not 'cause you’re Black,'"
The officer then approaches Morrison and the phone appears to be knocked out of her hand. The exchange between the officer and McClean can be heard but is not shown on the remainder of the video.
"Give me your hand or you’re getting tased!" the officer says.
"I don’t know why this is happening," Morrison said. "We ain’t done nothing wrong."
Morrison then says: "He just punched me."
USA TODAY has reached out to both McClean and Morrison and has not received a response.
What have the police said?
In a Public Information Release Report, the Pennsylvania State Police said that Morrison pulled behind the officer's car after McClean was pulled over. The statement says that McClean, "became verbally combative toward the Trooper."
The statement claims that both McClean and Morrison resisted arrest.
"Both individuals were arrested for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and other related charges," state police said
The State Police refused to identify the officer involved in the arrest.
veryGood! (33)
Related
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Stock market today: Japan’s Nikkei 225 hits new record close, leading Asian shares higher
- 1 shot at shopping mall food court in Seattle suburb
- Experts doubt Trump will get conviction tossed in hush money case despite Supreme Court ruling
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- How to protect your home from a hurricane
- Historic new Kansas City stadium to host 2024 NWSL Championship
- At BET Awards 2024 Usher honored, Will Smith debuts song, election on minds
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Video shows dog turning on stove, starting fire in Colorado Springs home
Ranking
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Kraken's Jessica Campbell makes history as first female full-time NHL assistant coach
- Many tattoo ink and permanent makeup products contaminated with bacteria, FDA finds
- Map shows states where fireworks are legal or illegal on July 4, 2024
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- In North Carolina, Eastern Hellbenders Are a Species of Concern, Threatened by the Vagaries of Climate Change
- Ford recalls more than 30,000 Mustangs over potential loss of steering control
- Ranger injured and armed person making threats dies at Yellowstone, park says
Recommendation
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Tesla stock climbs as Q2 vehicle deliveries beat expectations for first time in year
The Daily Money: Investors divided on Trump vs Biden
Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and More of Kris Jenner's Kids React After Her Tumor Diagnosis
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
2 more people charged with conspiring to bribe Minnesota juror with a bag of cash plead not guilty
Video shows dog turning on stove, starting fire in Colorado Springs home
Microsoft will pay $14M to settle allegations it discriminated against employees who took leave