After being caught on video repeatedly picking up a Black woman while walking her dog, a Chicago police officer has resigned. The incident was described by her lawyers as "racial profiling".
A spokesperson for the department stated that Officer Bruce Dyker resigned while the Aug. 28 incident was still being investigated.
According to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability which reviewed the incident, Dyker asked Nikkita to leave the beach that was closed shortly after midnight.
After "words were exchanged", the agency claimed that Brown was "forcefully grabbed" by the officer.
Brown's lawyer released video of his body camera, which shows Brown asking the officer for her respect as he exits from his cruiser. She can be heard saying, "It's Covid."
Although it isn't known what happened before the video, Dyker can be heard saying: "Respect your space?" I am about to handcuff you."
Brown can be seen backing away Dyker, while telling him repeatedly to "back up" in order to move away.
He can be heard shouting, "Get out of this park!" What do you think that means? The park is now closed. If you do not take your dog with you, you are trespassing upon city property.
Brown is seen looking at her phone while she pauses. The officer then appears to grab her arm before reaching for it. Brown can be heard screaming repeatedly and saying "let go!"
A witness video of Brown being held by an officer was released by her lawyer. He appears to have kept Brown in his grip for almost a minute before releasing her and walking away.
Keenan Saulter was a lawyer representing Brown following the incident. He said that the case was "obviously racial profiling" since white pedestrians were near but not approached in the exact same way.
"He never had any reason to approach her." Saulter stated that he never had an opportunity to attack her or to arrest her. "And the best proof of that is that he allowed her walk away after attacking her," Saulter said.
Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of Toronto, stated that she was "quite perturbed" by the video. She added: "I believe this woman deserves answers as well as members of the general public.
According to David Brown, the Police Superintendent, Dyker was placed on administrative leaves. It was not clear whether Dyker was currently facing disciplinary actions before his resignation.
He was not available for comment.
John Catanzara (the top officer in Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police chapter) did not immediately respond when asked for comment. He told the Associated Press, however, that Bruce had grown tired of all the scrutiny and nonsense that was being applied to his job.
