Stock photo courtesy of Pexels
The Philadelphia Police Department faces a lawsuit from civilian Jacob Giddings, who claims Officer Tyree Burnett deleted footage of his arrest from his cellphone.
The incident occurred at a gas station on March 23 in Philly’s Olney neighborhood, reported WPVI. Lennon Edwards, Giddings’ lawyer, said his client was sitting in a vehicle talking to his friend when Burnett walked up and demanded identification without any explanation.
Giddings and his friend began to record
the incident. Burnett opened the door, and when he started pulling Giddings out of the vehicle, his phone fell on the ground. He reportedly had an active warrant for his arrest, but Edwards insists Giddings didn’t know it existed, per ABC News.The officer retrieved the phone, and his own body camera showed him tinkering with the cellphone. Edwards said Giddings asked if the video was still on his phone, and Burnett told him he didn’t know.
“[The officer] knows what he did, and the two officers standing there know what he did,” Edwards told ABC News. “And none of them, none of the three officers say anything. They are all complicit in violating Mr. Giddings’ rights in tampering with evidence.”
Edwards believes his client’s story is an example of a bigger issue.
“While this happened in Philadelphia, this is something that happens all over the country,” Edwards told CBS Philadelphia. “This exposes what’s happening. It exposes a particular incident, but this is a prevalent issue.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw told WPVI the incident is under investigation.
“We are aware of this incident, and he’s actually been on restricted duty since, I believe, April. But there is an active and ongoing internal affairs investigation right now,” Outlaw said.
Giddings plans to file a lawsuit seeking monetary damage. He also wants police reform, according to his lawyer.
“We’re looking for a serious reaction by the people who were supposed to do something, beginning with the department where he worked and moving on up the ladder,” Edwards told ABC News. “What this officer did was deleting evidence. He is essentially tipping the scales of justice in his favor.”