Video Shows Police Tasering, Arresting Man Talking To DC Officer

WASHINGTON, DC -- Metro Transit Police have opened an investigation and local activists are demanding answers after video captured an officer tasering a man who appeared only to be talking to another officer in a Metro station in D.C.

Police have opened an internal investigation after the video was shared on social media showing an officer shoving a man and then tasering him -- apparently unprovoked -- at the U Street Metro station on Saturday.

The Washington Post cited a Metro spokesman as saying that the officer's statement indicates that the arrested man took an "aggressive stance" with a balled fist and appeared ready to fight. However, a video posted by Black Lives Matter DC does not show any of these actions.

Its Black Joy Sunday & we still demanding @councilofdc have @wmata & @DCPoliceDept stop criminalizing & brutally beating Black children & people @charlesallen @CM_McDuffie @RobertWhite_DC @trayonwhite the kids were innocent yet handcuffed & made to look like a criminal @ACLU_DC pic.twitter.com/nogAGNITvF
— BlackLivesMatter DC (@DMVBlackLives) June 23, 2019

Metro Transit Police released a statement saying that police were originally on the scene over a "report of disorderly juveniles threatening Metro patrons on the platform with sticks" at around 5:42 p.m. on Saturday.

After officers detained several juveniles identified by witnesses, they were not able to locate the witness and released the juveniles to their parents or guardians, according to the statement.

"During the investigation, as officers were interacting with the juveniles including two who had attempted to flee the scene, an adult male patron who was not involved in the original incident allegedly began interfering with the police investigation and -- according to an officer's report -- exhibited behavior consistent with preparing to fight the officer," the statement reads. "After the subject disregarded warnings to move back, the officer deployed his department issued CEW (commonly known as a TASER), and was able to take the man into custody. Neither the subject nor the involved officer reported any injury."

Because of "concerns raised on social media regarding the officer's handling of the interaction," police will investigate the matter, the statement adds.

MTPD has opened an internal investigation into an arrest at U Street Station yesterday evening that involved an officer using force. We take use-of-force matters seriously, and we are committed to fostering the public's trust in us. Below is our full statement. #wmata pic.twitter.com/O3bgtcpmhw
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) June 23, 2019