BODYCAMS: MAYHEM In The Streets Of Providence Rhode Island, Pepper Spray & Batons

The Providence Police Department on Thursday night released redacted body worn camera footage from their response to a disturbance on Sayles Street earlier this week.

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Mayor Jorge Elorza, Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré, and Col. Hugh Clements are expected to speak in more detail about their investigation at a briefing set for 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Providence police release body camera footage of their response to a disturbance on Sayles Street amid criticism from residents.

Outrage was expressed on the City Council floor Thursday night, after video of an altercation at a home on Sayles Street surfaced showing an officer hitting one person on the back and others using pepper spray.

"These kids are going to be traumatized for the rest of their life," said City Council Member Nirva LaFortune.

Police said they've been called dozens of times to the same house before the disturbance Tuesday night, when five people were arrested.

The department admitted that children in the area were hit by pepper spray.

Those families are asking for an apology.

"They beat on my son who is ill. Beat him. Beat him with batons on his back," said Taffi Moore, who said children were roughed up by police.

The police officers responding all had body cameras rolling. The footage, with redactions of minors, was released late Thursday.

"There are several different angles. We were there for a very long time. I will tell you we've been to that house in the last year-and-a-half 42 times," said Clements. "Disturbances, loud music."

The Providence police chief said two families were feuding over a fire hydrant. Three separate 911 calls came in after an adult made a threat to a 7-year-old.

As many as 50 people were at the scene before things escalated.

"It takes time to go through a review. I don't want to be premature in saying anything about where we are because it's not complete," Pare said.

Accusers said several of them were put in a sweltering police van after being sprayed.

“The van was there and there were individuals who were placed under arrest. We weren’t sure how many more people would be arrested at that scene, so there was a time period where the van stayed on scene. Whether that was 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes, I’m not sure. But all of that is under review," Clements said.

No administrative action has been taken against the responding officers. - ThisIsButter

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