Viral arrest video: Man and police speak out
By Morrissey Walsh
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YORK, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A video showing York City police officers arresting a man is circulating on social media, leading to concerns from the man’s family and a response from the police department.
The video, recorded on Saturday, shows Donevyn Eaton being taken into custody outside his sister’s home. Police said there was a warrant for his arrest for driving with a suspended license.
“Next thing I know, a cop wound up and said I had a warrant and grabbed a hold of me. And before I could even react or anything, he, like, charged me and threw me to the ground. And we just started tussling right here,” Eaton said.
The struggle moved to the breezeway, out of sight, and then back to the front porch.
Eaton said he was not initially told why he was being arrested.
“When I asked what the war was for, he wasn’t telling me until after he got me in cuffs and placed in the back of the cop car,” Eaton said.
Captain Daniel Lentz says body camera footage showed Eaton was told why he was being arrested in the breezeway.
“You can’t see any of that interaction on the doorbell. But it’s in that moment,” said Lentz. “I know everybody’s like, Donny wanted to know what the warrant was for. Well, that he told him them in the breezeway there and it’s all on the body camera. So he was informed.”
Eaton’s sister says she feels this situation should have been handled differently.
“It was just crazy to me, like, to watch what he went through and then to talk to my neighbor, who witnessed it,” said Eaton’s sister, Aryza. “Somebody could have said something. You know, instead of coming up and basically attacking him and doing all that, that was not necessary. Like, I know they have a job to do, but I know my brother. He would have went with them,” she said.
Captain Lentz explained that the department reviews body camera footage whenever there is use of force.
“I can tell you that after reviewing not only the initial officer’s camera, but all the other body cameras over there, that the officers acted within our department’s policy,” Lentz said.
Eaton was taken into custody and is charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, among other charges, according to court documents.
The documents state that Eaton allegedly bit one officer and tried to bite another.
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