The nation has been stirred up again due to another incident of seemingly racial violence and police brutality.
People online are asking why a white police tased a black man who was complying with the instructions.
What is the incident that sparked a viral fire online?
On December 2, 2023, Dana Elmore, a white officer with the Reform Police Department, tasered 24-year-old Black man Micah Washington of Tuscaloosa. Washington was in cuffs and cooperating with her, but she tasered him. She has been placed on administrative leave, and the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is looking into this.
Who Is Dana Elmore?
Dana Elmore, a white female Sheriff’s Deputy with the Pickens County Police, recently gained attention for her involvement in detaining, frisking, handcuffing, and tasing a young black man in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
She is also affiliated with the state’s Reform Police Department and has received recognition for her dedication to protecting and serving Pickens County residents. This includes the prestigious Life Saving Award.
Her actions in the controversial incident have sparked discussions about law enforcement practices and racial profiling.
Why Did The Alabama Police Officer Tase a Black Man in Cuffs?
In a troubling incident that has ignited outrage and sparked protests, a video captured an officer, Dana Elmore, from the Reform Police Department in Alabama tasering a handcuffed Black man.
The victim, identified as 24-year-old Micah Washington of Tuscaloosa, found himself at the center of this disturbing encounter during a traffic stop in Pickens County on December 2.
The video footage shows a white officer directing Washington toward a police car during the traffic stop. Washington is visibly handcuffed at this point. Instructed by the officer, he lays down on the hood of the police car. What happens next is deeply troubling.
As Washington complies with the officer’s orders, she brandishes her taser or stun gun, pointing it at his back while saying, “Stay still.”
In response, Washington informs the officer,
“I’m not doing sh*t, I got a gun right there.”
She casually acknowledges, saying, “Oh yeah.”
However, what transpires next is shocking and unsettling.
Washington questions the officer’s apparent enthusiasm with a perplexed, “Oh yeah?” In response, the officer abruptly tasers him in the back.
The young man lets out a harrowing scream of pain as the officer harshly instructs him to “Shut the fck up,” not once, but twice.
As Washington’s distress becomes palpable, the officer chillingly asks if he “wants it again.” The video concludes with the officer further berating Washington, telling him to “shut the fck up” and “shut your b*tch ass up.”
Jalexis Rice, Washington’s girlfriend, shared her emotional response to the video, recounting her helplessness as she witnessed the officer’s actions.
Overwhelmed by grief, Rice expressed, “When I seen it, I couldn’t do nothing but cry.” She described how the officer tased Washington in the back, cruelly holding the taser in place until he began to cry.
Rice clarified that the initial encounter unfolded as Washington and two others changed a car tire when the officer arrived. What transpired afterward led to the distressing events depicted in the video.
What Is The Response To The Viral Incident?
The officer in question, Dana Elmore, has reportedly been placed on administrative leave because of the incident.
Meanwhile, Micah Washington faces a litany of charges, including resisting arrest, marijuana possession, obstructing governmental operations, drug trafficking, and possessing a firearm as a felon. He is still in custody.
Reacting to the disturbing video, Reform Police Chief Richard Black and Mayor Melody Davis issued a joint statement acknowledging the gravity of the situation (via Alabama Political Reporter):
“The department is in the process of turning over all materials related to this arrest to the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and has requested a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest.”
While law enforcement and city officials referred inquiries about the arrest to 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin, he has not released additional information about the ongoing investigation.
In the wake of this disturbing incident, community members, including Washington’s family and friends, have initiated protests near City Hall.
They are demanding accountability and justice for Micah Washington as the video continues to circulate, reigniting discussions about police conduct and the urgent need for reform.
What do you think of this incident? Should the officer responsible be fired from her job?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Alabama Political Reporter
