PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WJLA) — A second use of force video has surfaced after a Maryland police officer was seen on camera hitting a suspect in the head several times after he was spat on. The original exclusive video WJLA obtained is from 2020 and shows a very intoxicated suspect spitting at Prince George’s County police officer Steven Tucker Jr. while he was driving his patrol car. Tucker reacted by punching the suspect a total of eight times. Police called Tucker's use of force justifiable. Now, WJLA has questions about another alarming use of force video involving the same police officer.
Cell phone video posted on X last October showed Prince George's County Police Officer Steven Tucker grabbing a handcuffed suspect's neck during a struggle after the man refused to get in a patrol car's front seat. They fall and Tucker's arm ends up on the man's neck. Prince George's County police said that Tucker's direct supervisor who viewed the cell phone video decided Tucker's use of force was justifiable. The suspect was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting - interfering with arrest and possession of a dangerous controlled substance --- all misdemeanors. Criminologist Eric Piza, with Northeastern University , said if the use of force lasts for a few seconds, it could be justifiable. But, slow-motion video doesn't show the entire story. Body cameras from both officers fell off and didn't show the neck restraints. In an email, Brian Fischer, the police department's Media Relations Division Manager, told WJLA a use of force review was written, and it was deemed to be within policy by command staff. No Internal Affairs Department investigation was conducted. He also stated the department looked at the cell phone video but never kept a copy.
WJLA submitted a Maryland Public Information Act request to double-check. So far, WJLA hasn't received any documents. On Wednesday night at the county's police accountability board, Board Chair Kelvin Davall said the board has never seen any cell phone video of Tucker's use of force and has never seen any use of force report from last year's incident which it should if one exists. Davall said anytime an officer even touches someone, the board is supposed to review the incident. Piza said every use of force by an officer should be documented. “No police agency wants their officers to resort to force as a first option. So, every single instant of force should be filed and documented in some capacity,” said Piza. According to Prince George's County Police Department policy, a neck restraint is a serious use of force and when used, an officer’s supervisor must obtain a use of force number and make sure the officer completes a use of force statement. In addition, any video evidence obtained is routed through the Chain of Command and to the Internal Affairs Department. That appears not to have happened because the department said they didn't have a copy of the cell phone video. The American Academy of Neurology said that because of the inherently dangerous nature of neck restraints, it strongly encourages law enforcement and policymakers to classify neck restraints, at a minimum, as a form of deadly force. It also recommends prohibiting the use of neck restraints. Over the last eight years, Tucker has been under investigation for 37 incidents where he used force. Four of those include the use of force with a closed fist including an incident from 2020 where Tucker hit a suspect eight times in the head after the suspect spat on him.
WJLA spoke to Campaign Zero, an advocacy group that pushes to end law enforcement agency violence and hold police accountable. "It's clear that was an unwarranted use of force and punching him repeatedly in the head was not an appropriate response,” said Campaign Zero Executive Director DeRay McKesson. The Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz refused to answer any questions on camera from the 7News I-Team regarding this officer and previous incidents. The suspect didn't want to talk on camera with 7News. His charges appear to have disappeared. Officer Tucker also has not responded to 7News' request to interview.
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Cell phone video posted on X last October showed Prince George's County Police Officer Steven Tucker grabbing a handcuffed suspect's neck during a struggle after the man refused to get in a patrol car's front seat. They fall and Tucker's arm ends up on the man's neck. Prince George's County police said that Tucker's direct supervisor who viewed the cell phone video decided Tucker's use of force was justifiable. The suspect was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting - interfering with arrest and possession of a dangerous controlled substance --- all misdemeanors. Criminologist Eric Piza, with Northeastern University , said if the use of force lasts for a few seconds, it could be justifiable. But, slow-motion video doesn't show the entire story. Body cameras from both officers fell off and didn't show the neck restraints. In an email, Brian Fischer, the police department's Media Relations Division Manager, told WJLA a use of force review was written, and it was deemed to be within policy by command staff. No Internal Affairs Department investigation was conducted. He also stated the department looked at the cell phone video but never kept a copy.
WJLA submitted a Maryland Public Information Act request to double-check. So far, WJLA hasn't received any documents. On Wednesday night at the county's police accountability board, Board Chair Kelvin Davall said the board has never seen any cell phone video of Tucker's use of force and has never seen any use of force report from last year's incident which it should if one exists. Davall said anytime an officer even touches someone, the board is supposed to review the incident. Piza said every use of force by an officer should be documented. “No police agency wants their officers to resort to force as a first option. So, every single instant of force should be filed and documented in some capacity,” said Piza. According to Prince George's County Police Department policy, a neck restraint is a serious use of force and when used, an officer’s supervisor must obtain a use of force number and make sure the officer completes a use of force statement. In addition, any video evidence obtained is routed through the Chain of Command and to the Internal Affairs Department. That appears not to have happened because the department said they didn't have a copy of the cell phone video. The American Academy of Neurology said that because of the inherently dangerous nature of neck restraints, it strongly encourages law enforcement and policymakers to classify neck restraints, at a minimum, as a form of deadly force. It also recommends prohibiting the use of neck restraints. Over the last eight years, Tucker has been under investigation for 37 incidents where he used force. Four of those include the use of force with a closed fist including an incident from 2020 where Tucker hit a suspect eight times in the head after the suspect spat on him.
WJLA spoke to Campaign Zero, an advocacy group that pushes to end law enforcement agency violence and hold police accountable. "It's clear that was an unwarranted use of force and punching him repeatedly in the head was not an appropriate response,” said Campaign Zero Executive Director DeRay McKesson. The Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz refused to answer any questions on camera from the 7News I-Team regarding this officer and previous incidents. The suspect didn't want to talk on camera with 7News. His charges appear to have disappeared. Officer Tucker also has not responded to 7News' request to interview.
