Video of Beaufort cops arresting woman prompts investigation, claims of excessive force
Beaufort police launched an internal investigation after a cellphone video of a woman’s arrest on Thanksgiving was widely shared across social media, prompting accusations of excessive force. The short, shaky clip shows a small part of a series of four arrests, which began with a man being pulled over for allegedly driving under the influence.
The incident involved multiple officers from Beaufort and one from the sheriff’s office as they attended to a DUI scene that quickly grew chaotic with the arrival of a second car.
In a statement posted Saturday morning, the Beaufort Police Department said it was aware of the video and that “every incident involving a response to resistance undergoes a multi-step review process to ensure compliance with our standards and policies.”
Officers pulled over a vehicle for a “traffic infraction” just before 11 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Boundary and Palmetto streets, according to Beaufort police spokesperson Lindsey Edwards. The driver was arrested for DUI and resisting arrest, while his passenger was charged with resisting arrest and public disorderly conduct.
The situation escalated after another car arrived on scene, occupied by two women who knew the pair in the other vehicle. Police arrested that driver for allegedly assaulting a non-officer on scene, Edwards said. The passenger who recorded the video was charged with interfering in the driver’s arrest.
The 53-second video shows a woman being pulled by her arm out of the driver’s seat by a Beaufort policeman. Another officer and a Beaufort County deputy are then seen assisting in the woman’s detainment.
By the time the camerawoman exited the vehicle and approached the scene, the driver was on the ground with her hands behind her back.
“Back up — now!” a Beaufort policeman yells at the camerawoman.
“How you gonna tell me to back up?” she asks as a sheriff’s deputy leads her away from the woman on the ground.
“Because I just f***ing did,” the officer responds.
Shortly after, the video shows another Beaufort officer approaching the camerawoman and trying to detain her.
“What is you grabbing me for? I didn’t even do nothing,” she says, adding that the officers were grabbing her hair.
As of Tuesday, the video had over 2,100 shares on Facebook, where it was originally posted. The officers’ actions were widely denounced, with some claiming the four individuals were treated differently because they were Black or because the woman was recording.
“To snatch that lady out (of) her car and sling her on the ground like that hurt my stomach,” one commenter wrote.
None of the Beaufort officers involved in the incident had been placed on leave due to the internal investigation, according to Edwards. The spokeswoman would not specify how many officers responded to the scene but said none of them were injured.
One deputy from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office was also present for the string of arrests. Sheriff P.J. Tanner said his staff reviewed the body camera footage and found no signs of misconduct from the deputy.
“In a command staff meeting (Monday) morning, my colonel was there — he briefed command staff on his finding of the review of the video, and we were all fine with his finding,” Tanner said. “We’re here to help the city in whatever way, but we’re not concerned about the actions of the deputy that was there.”
Chief Stephenie Price of the Beaufort Police Department could not be reached for additional questions.
Three of the four people arrested were released on bond early Friday, with the fourth bailing out Saturday afternoon.
Police in South Carolina are not required to release body camera footage via the Freedom of Information Act, although courts can order the release of the videos during criminal and civil litigation.
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette do not typically name individuals charged with misdemeanor offenses unless they are in a position of public trust or there is a compelling reason to do so.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 4:18 PM.
