Officers use of force was justified and within the within policy guidelines, adhering to standard procedure within the bureau said Chief Richard Mendez of the Lancaster City Police Bureau.
Chief Mendez and Mayor Danene Sorace held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to address the March 2 incident involving Lancaster City Police using force to arrest youths bicycling in downtown Lancaster City.
A video circulated on social media of the incident. In a statement, the police said the video does not depict the full interaction, the incident is under review, and the youths involved were charged with disorderly conduct, evading arrest, limitations on riding side by side, and lack of light and reflectors. Lancaster City residents and activists gathered at the Lancaster City Council meeting Tuesday evening to voice their concerns about the March 2 arrest of youths downtown. (Related: Lancaster residents voice concerns to City Council about March 2 arrest)
Since the incident involves minors their names will not be released. The bureau cannot release anything that could identify the individuals involved such as body camera footage to ensure no faces, audio or identifying information about the youths is released. This is the bureau’s standard practice for all minor related incidents. Statement from police.
Officers saw a group of 10 to 15 youths riding bikes across lanes of traffic disrupting the flow. Officers recognized the youths from an incident earlier in the week. Officer attempted to stop them by pulling their police car Infront of the them, once the officers stepped out the car the youths fled.
Approximately five minutes later, officers traveling eastbound on East Chesnutt Street spotted the same group riding bikes northbound on North Duke Street. They stopped at the intersection, excited their vehicle and approached the youths directing them to stop, sit and identify themselves. The youths were uncooperative, and repeatedly stated they did nothing wrong leading to their arrest for disorderly conduct. The officers used the soft open hand techniques to arrest the youths. This resulted in one youth having a scape on their hand. That was the only injury reported. Both youths were taken to the police station. The officers notified their guardians of the charges.
A third youth, who fled the scene, was changed with disorderly conduct, when they came to the police station to pick up their bike that was left at the scene. The officers notified the parents as well.
The 3 officers that were under review have not been put on leave and will not be placed on leave.
Sorace, added that in the past the city in partnership with the, Boys and Girls club and staff from the Departments of Public Works and Neighborhood Engagement, held a series of meetings to address these issues with riders. The meetings were unsuccessful in the past but Sorace has reached out the Boys and Girls Club to start the initiative back up.
