Police officers might not face repercussions for aggressively handling Jazmine Headley and her 1-year-old daughter, but the 23-year-old is putting justice into her own hands by taking legal action.
In an interview with The New York Times Monday (Dec. 17), the mother confirmed her plans to take her case to court to make sure others don’t face the same trauma. Headley is referring to the Dec. 14 incident in which she was arrested at a public assisting office in Brooklyn. Bystander footage showed officers vigorously grabbing Headley and prying her child from her arms.
“It’s the story of many other people, it’s not just my story,” Headley said of her incident. “My story is the only one that made it to the surface.” Charges were dropped against Headley and Mayor Bill de Blasio faced scrutiny for his delayed reaction to the incident.
An NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau review also stood by the officers, citing they did nothing wrong. Instead, blame is being placed on the security officers who first approached Headley about sitting on the floor of the office.
“The NYPD has conducted a strenuous review of what happened because the public deserves answers, and we must take every opportunity to continuously strengthen how the NYPD serves the people of New York City,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said in a statement. “This review shows that prior to the incident depicted on public video, NYPD officers are working with the client to de-escalate the situation.”
The Civilian Complaint Review Board is investigating the arrest along with the actions of the security guards.
The incident has opened up a conversation regarding the treatment of those in public assistance offices and the handling of young children.
READ MORE: NYPD Officers Caught Strenuously Pulling One-Year-Old Out Of Mother’s Arms