Fairfax
County Police Department disputes claims that woman was "body
slammed"
TYSONS,
Va. - The Fairfax County Police Department is disputing social media claims
that a woman was body slammed during an arrest last week.
Police
released this surveillance video of the moment a 19-year-old woman was arrested
for disorderly conduct after her friend was caught shoplifting at Spencer's in
Tysons Corner Center. On Thursday, a Facebook post went viral claiming that the
woman was slammed face first into the ground. Fairfax County's police chief
says the video on social media only shows part of what actually happened.
"The
officer used a guided escort with her own weight to take her gently down to the
floor so the struggle would stop and it would prevent harm to herself and other
and police officers. That was not body slamming at all and that allegation is
absolutely false and that's why I released the video," Chief Edwin C.
Roessler with the Fairfax County Police Department said.
Chief
Roessler has directed the internal affairs bureau to review this matter and has
requested an independent investigation by the police auditor.
Fairfax Co.
police dispute social media claims woman was slammed to ground during arrest
After three people were arrested at Tysons Corner Center
last Thursday, Fairfax County
police released surveillance footage from inside the Virginia
store to dispute a social media post that claims one of the arrested people was
slammed to the ground.
Police said it all happened on Thursday, April 25 when
22-year-old Molly Helmer of Annandale was caught shoplifting at the Spencer’s
store. An officer responded and issued her a summons for a future court date.
Police say Helmer was leaving with a group of friends when
19-year-old Lia Chen of Annadale threw her water bottle and dumped her drink
all over the floor as police stood by in plain clothes.
Steve Bun, 27, of Fairfax, Virginia, was one of the three
people arrested for disorderly conduct that day. According to his Facebook
post, he witnessed Chen’s arrest and began to record from outside
the store.
Chen was approached by
an officer and she began screaming and acting disorderly before being taken
back to the store, police said in a Tuesday news release. Chen attempted to
break free.
Police said they tried to gain control of her and keep her
from hurting herself or others and “she was taken to the ground by the
arresting officer and finally handcuffed.”
Bun’s Facebook post claims police were “manhandling” Chen
before “slamming her face first into the ground.”
Chen was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and
obstruction of justice and was banned from Tysons Corner Center for a year.
Police said Bun approached officers aggressively, cursing
at them and interfering with the police investigation, resulting in his arrest
for disorderly conduct.
Bun’s Facebook post claims he was rammed into a brick wall
outside of the store, breaking his Apple Watch and injuring his hand.
Bun was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center
and was released on a $2,000 bond.
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