On Saturday, a video showing former Baltimore police Officer Arthur Williams repeatedly punching an unarmed man—26-year-old DaShawn McGrier—in the face and head, went viral after it was posted to Instagram. Later that same day, the Baltimore Police Department suspended Williams, and subsequently “accepted his resignation” on Sunday. On Tuesday a grand jury indicted Williams on charges of first-degree assault.
State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby told reporters Tuesday that a warrant has now been issued for his arrest.
"It is important that the community knows there is one standard of justice, no matter your sex, race, religion, or occupation," said Mosby. "Police officers are sworn to protect and serve and when that oath is taken for granted and an abuse of that power is evident, we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law. This is an integral part to rebuilding trust in our criminal justice system."
The video, which you can see below is graphic and violent. In it, two officers are talking to a group of men, but separated. DaShawn McGrier is backed up against a wall, in a very close verbal argument with then Officer Williams. McGrier seems to shout an answer at Williams who then pushes McGrier. This is followed by a series of no less than a dozen full out punches from Williams, directed at McGrier’s face and head. McGrier seems to try to push himself away, while slowly falling away, and then the second officer makes something of a half-attempt at separating the two men. The video ends with McGrier on the floor, with Williams on top of him, blood pouring out of his mouth. This is not the first, second or third time in recent months that the Baltimore police department has had to weather the bad press that comes with being a completely corrupt and thuggish operation.
State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby told the Baltimore Sun that the second officer in the video would not be charged with anything at this time, saying that considering the “responsibilities at the scene,” that the second officer already had, charges were not considered “appropriate.”
According to McGrier’s attorney his client suffered a “fractured jaw, two fractured ribs, he lost feeling in his left leg." He also said that this event took place and had been simmering for a couple of months with the two men having already been in conflict earlier this summer.
Brown said their feud began months ago when McGrier encouraged children who he said were harassed by Williams to alert their parents to the officer’s behavior.
Then, in June, Williams tried to cite a woman for smoking marijuana when McGrier grabbed her hand-rolled cigar and tried to run away, Williams wrote in charging documents.
According to Williams’s report, McGrier threatened to kill Williams and had initiated a fight between the two. McGrier’s attorney says that story is also a fabrication on Williams’ part.