Since Marcus Deon Smith died on Sept. 8, 2018 after being restrained by officers of the Greensboro Police Department, the public comment period at City Council meetings have been dominated by people speaking about Smith’s death.
In April 2019, Mary and George Smith filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, the police officers and the Guilford County Emergency Medical Services employees involved in the incident.
As part of that lawsuit the attorneys representing the Smith family requested the police body worn camera videos of police using the Ripp Hobble device, which is commonly referred to as hog tying, on other people. The federal court granted the attorneys that right, but the court order did not include allowing the Greensboro city councilmembers the right to view those same videos.
City Attorney Chuck Watts explained to the City Council that they only way for councilmembers to view the videos would be for the city to file a request with a North Carolina Superior Court judge.
At the request of the City Council, Watts filed such a request in Superior Court and on Friday, Oct. 1 the members of the City Council were granted the right to view the police body worn camera videos of the 50 cases that are now evidence in the Smith lawsuit.
City councilmembers were given the right to view the videos, but not to speak publicly about them.
At the Tuesday, Oct. 5 City Council meeting several people speaking about the Marcus Smith case spoke in detail about the Ripp Hobble videos.
At the end of the meeting Watts responded to the comments about the body worn camera videos saying, “Context is everything. Certainly having to restrain a citizen is never going to be an attractive situation. But the context is what provides an understanding of why it became necessary. These restraints are used generally when a restraint is needed to protect the person, the officer or other members of the public. Plaintiffs do not speak to context in any of the examples they refer to in the pleadings or of the letter that has been referenced. I also wonder if all the folks who signed that letter had the benefit of seeing the actual video and understood the context of each of the situations to which plaintiffs refer. If so I’d like to understand how they got to see those videos when we had to go to court to get the right for council to be able see them.”
Now some councilmembers have viewed some of the over 200 hours of body worn camera videos that are at issue, but they can’t speak publicly about what they have seen, which will put councilmembers in an interesting situation if at the public forum in November people make statements about the videos which councilmembers who have watched the videos believe are inaccurate.
Since Marcus Deon Smith died on Sept. 8, 2018 after being restrained by officers of the Greensboro Police Department, the public comment period at City Council meetings have been dominated by people speaking about Smith’s death. In April 2019, Mary and George Smith filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, the police officers and the Guilford County Emergency Medical Services employees involved in the incident. As part of that lawsuit the attorneys representing the Smith family requested the police body worn camera videos of police using the Ripp Hobble device, which is commonly referred to as hog tying, on other people. The federal court granted the attorneys that right, but the court order did not include allowing the Greensboro city councilmembers the right to view those same videos. City Attorney Chuck Watts explained to the City Council that they only way for councilmembers to view the videos would be for the city to file a request with a North Carolina Superior Court judge. At the request of the City Council, Watts filed such a request in Superior Court and on Friday, Oct. 1 the members of the City Council were granted the right to view the police body worn camera videos of the 50 cases that are now evidence in the Smith lawsuit. City councilmembers were given the right to view the videos, but not to speak publicly about them. At the Tuesday, Oct. 5 City Council meeting several people speaking about the Marcus Smith case spoke in detail about the Ripp Hobble videos. At the end of the meeting Watts responded to the comments about the body worn camera videos saying, “Context is everything. Certainly having to restrain a citizen is never going to be an attractive situation. But the context is what provides an understanding of why it became necessary. These restraints are used generally when a restraint is needed to protect the person, the officer or other members of the public. Plaintiffs do not speak to context in any of the examples they refer to in the pleadings or of the letter that has been referenced. I also wonder if all the folks who signed that letter had the benefit of seeing the actual video and understood the context of each of the situations to which plaintiffs refer. If so I’d like to understand how they got to see those videos when we had to go to court to get the right for council to be able see them.” Now some councilmembers have viewed some of the over 200 hours of body worn camera videos that are at issue, but they can’t speak publicly about what they have seen, which will put councilmembers in an interesting situation if at the public forum in November people make statements about the videos which councilmembers who have watched the videos believe are inaccurate.
And this shouts the City Council up for good which voids the hold process of financial gain for all the trouble makes up for good. If any of them say a word of what they have seen they can be sued. THIS situation is NOW closed for GOOD!!!!
Since when did the City Council become part of the Judicial system? Any legal training at all?
As the police officials report to them, they represent the city as the accused and would (I assume) be part of the sign off on any potential settlement. Makes sense that they would want to see the video for the context as well…assuming they can view it unbiased.
The police chief reports to the Assistant City Manager for Public Safety. You are correct that city council should sign off on a settlement based on the advice of the outside attorneys they always have to hire if the situation is above a first year law student.
I disagree. These videos are evidence, and belong in the courtroom.
As usual you are behind. The council is now talking about viewing footage from past Police actions not the smith case
Is there an echo in here?
It is between my ears…..
This is balderdash, curtesy of the same incompetent Obama appointed Federal District Court Judge who was summarily reversed and chastized by the 4th Circuit because she assumed that any action by a Republican dominated Legislature was automatically racially animussed. Only should be allowed if arresting officers are present when video viewed to provide context. Of course it looks horrible and would shock any reasonably sentient person (Does that rule out council?). Context. They are just looking for an excuse to dump on GPD and enrich more members of “The Community.”
Also curious if the deceased had acknowledged paternity of his numerous illegitimate children. Are those children (and also any unacknowledged children who can demonstrate that they are his offspring) going to participate in the inevitable illegal gift of taxpayer funds to the grieving members of “The Community.”
Apple, meet orange.
5+ kids by different baby mommas no job no child support just another case of social offsprings being supported by John Q taxpayer a mental drug addict helping cause his own death and now the never do wells of our great city want to sue someone what a crock.
Yeah, the police should be able to beat and kill anyone that doesn’t meet your social standards!! Woohoo.
Or maybe, just maybe…due process should be considered when someone dies at the hands of public service professionals. Not assuming guilt on either side as in the case as it seems as if the officers were following procedure, but it is fair to have due process regardless of your personal opinion of the person who died. At a minimum, the force can learn from the event and determine if there is a better way to handle in the future.
I also support that after due process is completed, the public should be able to view any video evidence used to we can judge the fairness of the process as well.
Chris I don’t think the police in this case beat anyone and the death was tragic no doubt it wasn’t intentional and my social standard is people have free will don’t put yourself in a position to create a problem. If you father a child then it’s your responsibility to provide and care for that child just because you create it doesn’t mean the responsibility ends when you zip up your pants that goes for both men and women but that’s where we are in society now. Let’s just have’em and let the taxpayers take care of them it’s all free money just ask the government. Chris I think you’re a libtard moron. Just my opinion
That wasn’t my point. I will type slower for you…a person’s background and poor life choices have no place in a discussion about police engagement with the public. Officers should engage a guy with 5 kids, no job, etc… the same they engage with you. I firmly believe you should not have children if you can’t support them as it only increases the burden on the public to make up for their lack of support. But that is an entirely different conversation.
I am a self thinker and not some lame sheep like you that follows the conservative talking points one after the other. But you be you.
Marcus Smith was not beaten. He was maximally restrained with an approved, trained upon piece of equipment. Now , the agency, city council, and attorneys can determine if they want to use that piece of equipment in the future.
As usual you are behind. The council is now talking about viewing footage from past Police actions not the smith case
Why am I am lame sheep because of a conservative point of view. As I stated before free will means don’t put yourself in a position of trouble and you can avoid it. But don’t burden society with your shortcomings sorry you weren’t taught that in your liberal upbringing
I know that this request is not directly the Marcus Smith case. But why do you think they are asking for all the other videos related to maximum restraint?
Every millisecond of EVERY BWC video of police offices ON DUTY is public property. The cameras, officers’ salaries and every bit spent to defend against lawsuits and provide compensation to victims comes out of PUBLIC coffers, thus should be subject to FoIA and public accountability and disclosure laws. Council and ANY concerned citizen should be able to submit FoIA requests for every single piece of evidence germane to an incident or case. Councilpersons are CITIZENS, first and foremost, and all should have equal access to the inner workings of the agencies we fund with our hard earned dollars. No governmental department or taxpayer funded organization that conceals its activities from taxpayers should be respected, obeyed, tolerated or left unmonitored and unaccountable in a free and open society.
TUNA, you’re obviously overeducated but you are most definitely not an attorney. Back to your gender studies class at UNCG. Libtard!
So everything that the CIA, FBI, NSA, and all recorded or paperwork related aspects of every government office should also be fully viewable by the public? So all of Biden’s recorded phone conversations should be fully discoverable by public info request? Get real, fish.
This is an absolutely frivolous law suit that needs to end right now. The only reason it continues on is because it is making a lot of money for some opportunistic individuals. If any one should be suing anybody over this incident it should be the police officers who were involved suing every person who has accused them of wrong doing.
Since the minority is now the majority I’m sure that the vote has already been decided. They will vote along racial lines. And they are probably glad that they will NOT have to talk about the situation in public anyway. This trend will continue until a new City Council is elected. They planned this out before hand and is NOW ready to make their move.
You can say that again….
LIBTARDS, I’ve asked this before but have yet to receive an answer. So when are WE going to stop paying for drug addicts to die by their own poor choices coincidently in police custody? And even worse, the surviving family members, vampires no less, have filed suit against everyone that tried to help this sick individual. Perhaps the next time GPD calls EMS to assist with an overdosing drug addict EMS will tell GPD they don’t want to get involved. Why risk being sued for just doing your job. Maybe the next time a citizen of Greensboro calls 911 to report a naked junkie running around the streets the dispatcher will tell them GPD no longer assists drug addicts that are overdosing due to liability issues. Doesn’t the family bear any responsibility for this man not receiving treatment for his addictions? No one can hide these issues from their family. NO ONE. Stop paying addicts to die of a drug overdose in police custody. Can you say… George Floyd? I CAN’T BREATHE we’re his first words to officers having never been touched by a single officer. Stop reacting to feelings and rely on facts. The bottom line is drug addicts will overdose but the people that are tasked with dealing with and trying to help should NOT be held responsible for said addicts poor decision nor should the taxpayers.
I agree that it would be good if the GPD did not get involved in mental (drug related or not) cases. It would seem a better trained unit that has both EMC and the physical training to deal with folks going through issues like this would make much better sense. Police officers have their hands full enough as it is.
I believe all BWC videos should be released when requested. The law in NC actually makes it more difficult for officers to defend themselves quickly against social media fodder.
I also think that the true heirs of Mr. Smith needs to be established for the purposes of a potential settlement. In NC I’m pretty sure it would be his children, not other relatives.
I don’t agree that ALL videos should be released. The police deal with people during the worst points in their lives and I would hate to see social media get ahold of just any video to shame a person so they can kick em when they are down.
I DO agree that they need to be more liberal in releasing videos of engagements where the police are being shamed and the video would bring clarity to the community about context as the chief mentions.
Any settlement should include paying back the taxpayers for all the upkeep for mr. smith’s children since he didn’t provide for them
Who are you going to get who has all that training and defend themselves? For $40,000 year? Working for this city?
How would they know the issues when they get a call
This is reparation in its most EVIL form. The outcome is HATE and disgust. Living in the past of a hundred years ago by taking down statues and painting the streets yellow is DEMONISM. Read the news today and see what an elected official said about LGBT persons. How can any human tolerate this. Killing someone because of Not wearing a mask. Society is out of control and things will only get worse if WE accept the this behavior.