GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Bay Police Department is defending its officers’ use of force, after a video of them arresting a man earlier this week caused community concern.
The department released body camera footage as well as a bystander’s cellphone video from an arrest earlier this week. The department said the cellphone video had been circulating and causing “concern regarding the use of force as a body restraint device.”
WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY
Around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a patrol officer witnessed Edward Curtis, 24, in a vehicle at an apartment complex in the 2000 block of Deckner Avenue.
The department says the officer knew Curtis had warrants out of Dane County and was suspected of possession of a stolen handgun. Curtis also allegedly fled a traffic stop in Appleton.
After Curtis left the vehicle, police attempted to arrest him.
A toddler was in the vehicle with Curtis. The child, who Curtis identifies as his daughter, was brought inside the apartment complex by another adult, according to GBPD.
The department says “Curtis made multiple attempts to flee, break away and kick at officers who were placing him into handcuffs.” Because of this, the department says officers used a restraint while attempting to calm Curtis.
The phone video captures the scene from a distance in the parking lot, captioned “14 cops for 1 man is crazy.” It shows police activity, which the witnesses interpreted as officers “jumping on him.”
The body cam footage shows that the officers’ activity was actually them tightening straps on a restraint, which restricted Curtis’ legs and feet.
The footage shows that after the restraint was secured, an officer asked Curtis if he was hurt anywhere, which he replied by saying he was hurt. When asked what was hurting, Curtis said, “Everything, I’m drunk.”
The officer asked Curtis if the pain was because he was drunk, to which Curtis said he thought that was the case, but he wouldn’t know until the next day.
After lifting Curtis into the vehicle and tightening the straps, an officer asked Curtis if he needed an ambulance. Curtis replied, saying he was dehydrated but, “Other than that, I’m good. So, I’m good, I’m good.”
According to the department, paramedics were on the scene as a precaution and Curtis was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation before being booked into Brown County Jail.
Police explained their decision to release the video with this statement:
“Any time our officers use force, we conduct a thorough review to ensure our policies were followed. While the review of this incident is in progress, everything I have seen up to this point shows that the officers involved were confronted with a very dangerous situation involving an armed individual who resisted a lawful arrest. Officers are expected to attempt to de-escalate the situation and encourage voluntary compliance with lawful actions; in this case these efforts included trying to reason with Mr. Curtis, using multiple officers to try to deter further resistance, and applying restraints to prevent him from kicking them,” said Chief Chris Davis, Green Bay Police Department. “It’s important for the community to ask questions and share their concerns about how we in the police service do our work. Sometimes this helps us identify misconduct and hold our employees accountable. In this case, however, what looked from a distance like an officer striking a person in custody was actually the officer properly applying a restraint. I hope this provides clarity to our community, and I appreciate this being brought to our attention.”
Curtis is facing the following charges in Brown County: receiving stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing an officer, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct, possession of THC and two counts of bail jumping.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the department says it will not be releasing any further information at this time.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to call the Green Bay Police Department at (920) 448-3200 and reference case #23-224480. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or submit a tip online.
