Current:Home > Invest'He just punched me': Video shows combative arrest of Philadelphia LGBTQ official, husband -EverVision Finance
'He just punched me': Video shows combative arrest of Philadelphia LGBTQ official, husband
View
Date:2025-04-11 19:35:58
Two prominent LGBTQ advocates in Philadelphia were arrested Saturday including a city official in an incident the mayor has called "concerning".
Video shows Celena Morrison, the city of Philadelphia's executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs and her husband, Darius McLean — an executive at a LGBTQ community center — being arrested after being pulled over for what Pennsylvania State Police alleged were "multiple Vehicle Code violations."
Morrison, 51, was appointed to her position in 2020, making her the first openly transgender person to lead a department in the city.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the video of the incident, "is very concerning to me" but had no further comment until the investigation was completed. She declined requests for comment from reporters who approached her about the subject on Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Neither Morrison or McClean have been charged by the Philadelphia District Attorney, according to the Inquirer.
An internal investigation into the incident has begun, according to a State Police spokesperson.
What does the video show?
The video, recorded by Morrison, shows McClean on the ground in the shoulder of I-76.
"Do you want to get tased? Put your hands behind your back." the officer shouts.
"OK! They are!” McLean says.
"That is my husband! Please!" Morrison yells.
"It’s OK, baby, it’s OK ... I don’t know why he’s doing this," McLean says.
Morrison then attempts to approach the officer causing the officer to aggressively direct her to step back.
"Please just stop. It’s because I’m Black." McClean says.
The officer responds, "It’s not 'cause you’re Black,'"
The officer then approaches Morrison and the phone appears to be knocked out of her hand. The exchange between the officer and McClean can be heard but is not shown on the remainder of the video.
"Give me your hand or you’re getting tased!" the officer says.
"I don’t know why this is happening," Morrison said. "We ain’t done nothing wrong."
Morrison then says: "He just punched me."
USA TODAY has reached out to both McClean and Morrison and has not received a response.
What have the police said?
In a Public Information Release Report, the Pennsylvania State Police said that Morrison pulled behind the officer's car after McClean was pulled over. The statement says that McClean, "became verbally combative toward the Trooper."
The statement claims that both McClean and Morrison resisted arrest.
"Both individuals were arrested for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and other related charges," state police said
The State Police refused to identify the officer involved in the arrest.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- After Another Year of Record-Breaking Heat, a Heightened Focus on Public Health
- Do you know these famous Pisces? 30 celebs with birthdays under the 'intuitive' sign.
- Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin calls Harvard students whiny snowflakes
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Below Deck's Ben Willoughby Reveals the Real Reason for Camille Lamb Breakup
- Horoscopes Today, January 31, 2024
- Which Grammy nominees could break records in 2024? Taylor Swift is in the running
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- How 'Poor Things' actor Emma Stone turns her anxiety into a 'superpower'
Ranking
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Hours of new footage of Tyre Nichols' beating released: What we know
- Family of child burned in over-chlorinated resort pool gets $26 million settlement
- Preliminary test crashes indicate the nation’s guardrail system can’t handle heavy electric vehicles
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Preliminary test crashes indicate the nation’s guardrail system can’t handle heavy electric vehicles
- Stolen phone? New theft protection security feature in Ios 17.3 update is here to help
- Adele announces 'fabulous' summer shows in Munich, first Europe concert since 2016
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Preliminary test crashes indicate the nation’s guardrail system can’t handle heavy electric vehicles
How to choose the streaming services that are right for youJump to...
Ex-US Open champ Scott Simpson details why he's anti-LIV, how Greg Norman became 'a jerk'
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Marvel's 'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' is still a stone cold groove
Taylor Swift, Drake, BTS and more may have their music taken off TikTok — here's why
UPS to layoff nearly 12,000 employees across the globe to 'align resources for 2024'