North Carolina Officer Ruled Justified in Viral Arrest of Amazon Worker
By The News & Observer (TNS)
SMITHFIELD, N.C. -- A Smithfield police officer was justified in his use of force after an arrest that went viral, Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle ruled.
Cell phone video shows the officer punching an allegedly impaired driver outside an Amazon distribution facility.
But the report released Friday by the DA’s Office sheds new light on the incident.
It says Officer Capshaw stopped Terrence Ellis just before 2 a.m. Oct. 18 for speeding. Capshaw found Ellis had a revoked license, and possessed drug paraphernalia.
Capshaw let Ellis off with a citation on the drug charges but told him not to drive because of his license.
But officials say minutes later, another officer saw Ellis driving all the way to the Amazon facility where he worked, and he did not stop for that officer.
Capshaw responded to that scene, where he said Ellis resisted arrest and overpowered both officers.
Officials said Ellis hit Capshaw five times in the head and face.
The officers responded by force and were finally able to get him into custody after about two minutes.
Doyle concluded that the use of force, which included closed-fist strikes, was reasonable and necessary to make the arrest.
Doyle said she reviewed dash camera videos, cellphone videos from bystanders and videos from Amazon parking lot cameras as well as officer accounts and consultation with an expert in law enforcement use-of-force tactics.
Previously, Ellis’ family had told ABC11 they did not believe he initiated the altercation.
Though she said the officer’s actions were acceptable, Doyle strongly urged the Smithfield Police Department to “pursue enhanced training to equip officers with additional options in future incidents.”
She also recommended that SPD prohibit officers from working a shift without a properly functioning dash camera with video and audio recording.
In this case, Capshaw’s dashcam recorded video but the audio portion was not working.
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