Police release video of arrests involving stun gun, baton

The Tuscaloosa Police Department has released the officer body camera video from the night three University of Alabama students were arrested after police responded to a noise complaint.

The police video released Wednesday was over 2 hours long and strings body cam footage from multiple officers.

“You’re under arrest for harassment for touching my arm”, said the officer. “I got your fingers, if you move I’m gonna break ’em off”.

The officers were checking on a noise complaint when the arrests took place.

TPD Chief of Police Steven Anderson confirmed that the three officers placed on paid administrative leave remain on leave, but that they have been continuing to heavily pursue the internal investigation. The building’s residents have said fans celebrated into early Sunday morning.

Video shows the student who lived there, who was later hit with the stun gun and flashlight, refusing to speak with the officer.

He said from what he saw “the officers didn’t have the right to enter the apartment”.

The videos show the officer, with eight years of experience, repeatedly trying to pull Williford out of the apartment as the students shout at him about warrants and legal representation.

Anderson added that the students “did not have to go outside the apartment at the officer’s request”.

A few public criticism has been directed at the students for not cooperating, but most has focused on the officers for using what many see as excessive force.

The police body camera video does not appear to be in chronological order, and there is no time stamp for reference.

Matthew Macia and Brandon Williford were arrested on charges of obstructing governmental operations and resisting arrest.

Williford was also charged with harassment.

Both 22-year-olds were charged with obstructing governmental operations; Macia was also charged resisting arrest; Giddis was also charged with harassment.

City officials have met with attorneys representing the three who were arrested and reviewed the body camera footage with them, Anderson said.

“My opinion of what I’ve seen in the video is that the officer didn’t have the right to enter the apartment at that time, and neither did he have the right to remove the individuals from the apartment”, Anderson said.