Officer's 'Mace Cloud' Over Apparently Peaceful Church Crowd Investigated
Pastor Dale Morgan
Officer's 'Mace Cloud' Over Apparently Peaceful Church Crowd Investigated*
Church Group To File Official Complaint With Orlando Police
POSTED: 9:01 pm EST November 18, 2007
UPDATED: 3:46 pm EST November 19, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- An Orlando officer apparently caught on video spraying
a can of mace "like it was an air freshener" over a seemingly peaceful
downtown crowd -- sickening several people -- has prompted a police
investigation.
Orlando officers were trying to disperse crowds that had gathered to
take part in several Florida Classic celebrations on Church Street late
Saturday when the incident happened.
Home video shot by the Jump Ministries showed an officer in the
background releasing a cloud of mace that sickened people in the crowd.
He sprayed the mace like it was an air freshener, Local 6's Jessica
Sanchez reported.
"(The officer) sprayed the mace low and then he sprayed it high so it
could go through the people," church member Lamond Plummer said.
"It went down my nose, into my throat and into my chest," church member
Takayah Norris said. "It was such a strong smell that I started to gag."
While pepper spray is used to break up unruly crowds, the church video
shows a peaceful crowd behind the church members, Sanchez reported.
"That is not the time to pepper spray us," Jump Ministries Church Bishop
Durone Hepburn said. "That is not the time to treat blacks like they are
herds. And that is how we felt. I felt like we were treated like
complete animals."
"Is it common for you guys to clear people out at Church Street with
mace or is that not a practice that you use?" Local 6's Tarik Minor asked.
"That is a very broad question," Orlando Police Chief Michael McCoy
said. "We are going to do things right and if we don't do them right we
will investigate it and take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Chief, there were church members maced," Minor said. "If that is true,
how does that strike you?" Minor asked.
"I'm here on church day," McCoy said. "Nobody should be maced
inappropriately."
McCoy said he is launching an investigation into whether Orlando police
officers were justified in using mace, Sanchez reported.
Church officials said they plan to file an official complaint with
Orlando Police Department Monday.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.