A Los Angeles Police Department officer is under fire after a video surfaced of him using excessive force to remove 18-year-old student Bethany Renee Nava from a train. In a more than 10-minute video that eyewitness Brock Bryan posted onto Facebook, the officer is seen aggressively removing the young woman, forcing her to leave her stuff behind.
The LAPD reports that the officer removed her from a Red Line train because she was being loud and disrupting other passengers. However, those who were there say that Nava merely had her foot on a chair when the officer confronted her. During the encounter, which took place Monday at about 3 p.m., the officer says “I already told you what to do and you didn’t. You disobeyed me. You’re getting off the train.”
As the officer manhandle Nava – who tried to hold on to a pole – others stand around the officer, asking him for his badge number and chastising him for hurting the young woman. Others recorded the incident and told him his actions weren’t warranted. Bryan, for example said, “Over her foot on the train? That’s so ridiculous. That’s really abuse of power, officer. She wasn’t blocking anybody else from sitting down.”
Another young woman, 22-year-old Selina Lechuga, also came to her defense, hurling expletives at the cop. “You’re going to take her to jail for putting her foot on the [seat]? As your fucking kidding me? You really have nothing to do.” Lechuga – who appears to spit on the officer – was also taken away in handcuffs.
According to KTLA 5, the LAPD is investigating the incident, and that Nava is due in court on February 15. She has been released. As for Lechuga, her bail was set at $20,000.
See the video below: