LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The East Lansing Police Division has responded to criticism over a closely publicized incident that happened throughout Michigan State College Welcome Weekend. The incident concerned officers pepper spraying two males police say had been preventing, inflicting some native leaders to assert police overstepped.
Kath Edsall, the Vice Chair of East Lansing Impartial Police Oversight Fee says the officers acted too rapidly.
An officer pulling out OC spray.
“I don’t see de-escalation, I don’t see taking a minute to evaluate the situation, I see jumping in and immediately spraying,” stated Edsall.
Edsall is disillusioned within the officers’ actions and says the 2 males weren’t given sufficient time to relax, however East Lansing Police Chief Jen Brown does not consider her officers did something unsuitable.
“They had provided loud verbal commands to break up the fight,” stated Brown “By having their presence in uniform and using loud verbal commands, and that did not work, they had the ability to use OC spray without notification.”
OC spray, also called oleoresin capsicum spray, is the type of pepper spray utilized by police.
6 Information spoke to David Carter, a legal justice professional from MSU. He says officers gave these concerned a good likelihood to “break it up” and after that, police should restore order.
Officers detaining one of many males concerned within the combat.
“You have to use force to comply and to restore order, and that’s specifically what less lethal tools like OC spray are made for. It’s to help get compliance,” stated Carter.
Edsall claims this sort of habits will destroy neighborhood police relationships, however Carter says officers should prioritize restoring order, particularly in a chaotic state of affairs like this one.
The 2 people who had been sprayed by police — Lonnie Smith, 21, of Okemos and Mason Woods, 22, of East Lansing — had been charged with disturbing the peace and cited for misdemeanor disorderly preventing. Woods was additionally charged with resisting and obstructing a police officer and cited for misdemeanor resisting, hindering, and obstructing.
Police say the 2 have pretrial dates scheduled for this month, with Smith’s on Oct. 2 and Woods’ on Oct. 23.
