Statement:
We strongly oppose the decision not to charge the Lakeland police officers for their misconduct in the arrest of Antwan Glover. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation has come to a close, but it seems that justice has not been served in this case.
The videos of Mr. Glover’s arrest, which went viral on social media, clearly show what appears to be excessive force being used by one of the officers. The officer can be seen punching Mr. Glover multiple times in the head and upper torso, despite his hands appearing to be held by his face in a non-threatening manner. This use of force is deeply troubling and raises serious concerns about the conduct of these officers.
State Attorney Brian Haas’s letter to Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor, summarizing the results of the investigation, states that the partial video shared by Mr. Glover is a misleading representation of the incident. However, without access to the complete FDLE report, it is difficult to evaluate the veracity of this claim. Furthermore, Haas’s statement that Mr. Glover’s own actions justified the officers’ use of force is concerning. It is not clear how resisting arrest without violence, if indeed that was the case, justifies the use of excessive force by the officers.
In addition, the lack of body camera footage from the incident is deeply troubling. The fact that the Lakeland Police Department had already purchased body cameras but had not rolled them out to the Street Crimes Unit at the time raises questions about transparency and accountability within the department.
Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc. is calling for the arrest of the officers involved and for the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into this incident. It is essential that there is a thorough examination of the allegations of a pattern of violent behavior by these officers. The community deserves to know the truth and trust must be restored between law enforcement and the residents they are sworn to protect.
We demand the Lakeland Police Department reconsider its decision and hold these officers be held accountable for their actions. The community is watching and demanding justice.
We feel the same way Antwan Glover felt when he was getting punched in the face and the stomach while on the ground.
We feel the same way Timothy Davis felt when officers broke his right eye socket resulting in vision loss
Before knocking him unconscious.
We feel the same way Armani Evans felt when he couldn’t eat for a week because he had his tooth knocked out after being beaten in the face with a Taser by LPD.
This is over. We are currently planning a series of demonstrations here in Lakeland to show our disapproval of this recent decision.