Bodycam footage of a Florida police officer reportedly pointing a gun at a woman and her toddler is garnering backlash from the public. Viewers have expressed disgust at watching how the situation unfolded with the toddler, who lay on the ground when the police instructed the mother to get down.
The footage captured an incident on March 4 when police responded to a call regarding an altercation. The police said the report was made about a dispute between a man and a store employee. The altercation, which involved a gun, happened in a parking lot outside a supermarket, per the report.
According to CBS News, the man left the scene after the altercation. The police located the man with a woman and a toddler after the suspect exited his vehicle. The man’s identity was not disclosed, but the woman was identified as 27-year-old Mariah Banks.
The police said that Banks was instructed to get on the ground, and her young child “mimicked the mother’s actions.” The footage shows multiple officers at the scene shouting instructions at the woman and seemingly the suspect, who is not captured in the video.
The woman and her toddler can be seen lying on the ground with their hands stretched out in front of them. Another policeman approaches them, instructing the mother to put her hands behind her back, and proceeds to detain her.
The police later found a pistol in their vehicle, the outlet reported. Following the incident, the authorities released a statement, saying that the matter was handled appropriately and the gun was never pointed at the child.
“Officers responded with an appropriate level of caution with the understanding there was a weapon involved, seeking to resolve the situation. … As soon as the officer approaching Banks became aware of the presence of the child, he immediately pointed his firearm towards the ground at a low-ready position. At no point was the officer’s weapon pointed at the child, as confirmed by multiple cameras,” authorities said.
However, the video continues to garner criticism, with some viewers expressing that they felt disgusted with the video and the police may have traumatised the child. Some social media watchers even said he should be fired for his actions.
