Hagerstown Girl Pepper Sprayed By Police Suing City
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A 15-year old Hagerstown girl who was pepper sprayed by police is now suing the city and the department.
This is the latest twist in an incident, captured by police body cams.
The girl collided with a car while on her bicycle in September. Hagerstown Police approached the 15-year old girl.
Cop: "You're being detained now..."
Girl: "Get off of me! [Obscenity]"
After refusing to name her parents or address, she was handcuffed and struggled with the officers:
Girl: "Get off!"
Cop:"Calm down. Calm down."
In the video, she is seen inside the car kicking at the door, as a police body cam caught the officer pepper spraying her:
"The officers applied their training and responded within the guidelines of the Hagerstown Police Department and policy," said Chief Victor Brito,
Hagerstown Police Dept.
"We're telling them we're going to be seeking compensatory and punitive damages," said the teen's lawyer, Robin Ficker.
Ficker notified the city and police department she will be suing, allegedly for more than was released on video:
"They got me out and slammed me up against another parked car and take me to the station, saying put her in a cell," said the defendant.
Ficker says his client is seeking "Police training so that they know how deal with people who that have been involved in accidents, people who are under age."
The girl did write a letter apologizing to police. Her lawyer says that won't weaken her case.
"She wrote a letter apologizing for her swearing, but not her behavior. Keep in mind she was hit by a car, knocked unconscious, and then woke up bewildered unsure of what was going on, and wanted to go to her parents, not with some strange men," said Ficker.
Cop: "Listen,we're trying to help you, ok?"
Girl: [screams.]
According to the teen's lawyer, Ficker, Hagerstown has not responded to a letter notifying the city of an intent to file suit. Charges against the 15-year-old girl of assaulting a police officer were eventually dropped.
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