A video of a police officer getting physical with a black woman as she called 911 for backup after being pulled over is gaining attention for the way she was treated.
Earledreka White, a 28-year-old social worker, was stopped by the officer [1] in Houston, TX, for allegedly crossing a solid line in a parking lot, reports the Houston Chronicle. She got out of her car to ask the officer what she had done wrong and he reportedly threatened to arrest her, which is when she called 911.
"I got out of the car to ask him what the offense was. He raised his voice at me and threatened to arrest me. So I'm really confused. And I would like another officer to come out here," she says on the call captured in the video, which was taped March 31 but released on Friday by the Chronicle. "My heart is racing. I'm really afraid." The Washington Post identified the officer as Gentian Luca [2], who's been with the Metro Police Department for three years.
In the middle of White's call, Luca can be seen grabbing and twisting her left wrist in an attempt to put her in handcuffs before pushing her onto her car. She says, "Please get your hands off of me. What is wrong with you?" Before pleading with the officer to stop, we also hear her say, "Why are you doing this? I haven't done anything."
White was arrested for resisting arrest, spent two days in jail, and was released on $1,000 bail, according to reports. She has since filed a formal complaint with Metro Police over charges of misconduct, saying he pulled her hair and caused neck soreness.
The police department said Luca's actions were valid and he was cleared of any wrongdoing. Still, people on social media are outraged at White's treatment, especially in light of the killings of black men last month [3] at the hands of police.
This #EarledrekaWhite [4] case out of #Houston [5] is so terrifying. And it's sad. You can hear her clearly confused at the injustice.
— Polemicist (@PalmTreesnGz) August 5, 2016 [6]
#EarledrekaWhite [7] and the police officer wasn't reprimanded in any way? I don't get it. It isn't illegal to get out of the car.
— Karen Cancilla (@KarenCancilla) August 5, 2016 [8]
I'm so tired of being disgusted by a new hashtag each day! #EarledrekaWhite [9] didn't deserve what happened to her!
— JoJo Love (@HearJoJo) August 4, 2016 [10]
White herself posted this illustration on Instagram.
ForREAL 📢🙎🏽 [11]
A photo posted by Earledreka White (@missdreeks) on