Residents of Hot Springs were shocked when a video of four teen girls being arrested by Hot Springs police officers went viral on Halloween night. The video showed the girls being restrained and manhandled by the officers, causing outrage among members of the community.
According to Sequinta Dendy, the mother of one of the girls, the incident began when one of the girls threw a soda can on the ground. The officers then approached the group and demanded someone pick up the can. However, the girls claimed they didn’t know who threw the can and one of the officers allegedly grabbed one of the girls by the neck and tried to force her to pick it up.
Dendy tearfully recounted the events captured in the video, stating that her daughter and the other girls were terrified and their cries for help could be heard. “As a mother, you do your best to protect your child, but I hate that I couldn’t do much in this situation,” she said. “My baby can’t sleep at night, she wakes up crying and telling me she’s in pain, and there’s nothing I can do.”
Kimberly Lambert, whose three daughters were among the four girls in the video, said she was worried about her daughters’ friend who was being restrained by the officers. She too was taken into custody along with the others. “Their friend was the only thing I was worried about,” said Lambert. “They were not concerned about themselves, they just wanted to save her.”
Lambert expressed her shock and disbelief at the incident, asserting that she doesn’t believe anyone, regardless of race, deserves to be treated in such a manner. All four girls have been charged with second-degree battery assault.
A Hot Springs, AR police officer confronted a group of teenage girls for littering on Halloween night when they lost their minds and assaulted him. The girl’s mom made up false claims over the incident, prompting the police to release the bodycam footage. pic.twitter.com/BUA5Zgly3j
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 4, 2023
The Hot Springs Police Department issued a statement on their Facebook page addressing the incident. They stated that the video does not accurately depict the events that led up to the officers’ actions and that a complete and unedited version of the body camera footage will be released once the faces of the minors have been blurred for their protection. The department also mentioned that use of force applications are reviewed internally as per their policy.
Dendy and Lambert are both calling for justice and the removal of the officers involved. “Whose child is next?” Dendy asked. “How far would they have gone if others hadn’t stepped in to help?”
The incident has sparked anger and concern among members of the community, with many demanding accountability and transparency from the Hot Springs Police Department. The department has stated that they remain committed to serving the city and its citizens and will conduct a thorough review of the use of force used by their officers. The community is eagerly awaiting the release of the complete body camera footage, hoping to gain a better understanding of what truly transpired on Halloween night.
