CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department reacted to a video Thursday that’s gone viral on social media showing a group of Chicago police officers forcefully restraining a man.
The video in question shows the arrest of Lorenzo Williams Jr Tuesday in Cabrini Green. During the video, he can be seen being held on the ground by multiple police officers, when one of them repeatedly hits him in the face with an object.
Seconds later, the same officer can be seen pointing a gun at Williams, and threatening to shoot him.
CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling addressed the concerns in the video Thursday, with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability also launching their own investigation.
“The Chicago Police Department, myself, we take these things seriously. There’s an internal investigation that has been launched,” Snelling said, while cautioning against early judgment. “It’s not a complete video, it doesn’t show everything. What I can tell you right now is it ended in an arrest, gun recovery at the time.”
According to Williams’ arrest report that was obtained by WGN News, arresting officers said they tried to stop him when they saw a gun in his waistband. They said he didn’t follow their orders, and tried reaching for that gun during the arrest, making the officers fear for their safety.
Police reported the gun in William’s possession was stolen out of Iowa.
Williams Jr has been charged with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, Aggravated Assault and Resisting Arrest.
While CPD and COPA’s investigations into the incident continue to unfold, members of the community also gathered outside CPD’s 18th District police station Thursday, calling for accountability, and for the officer who repeatedly hit Williams, to be fired.