Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Cops shove elderly cancer sufferer to the ground during George Floyd protests

Police officers were caught on camera as they shoved a 67-year-old veteran with cancer to the ground during George Floyd protests in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The footage, which was taken Saturday during an ABC4 News broadcast, shows an officer pushing James Tobin – who has leukemia and was seen using a cane – in the back causing him to lose his balance and go tumbling face-first to the ground.

Afterwards, officers are seen pulling Tobin off the ground before the clip ends.

‘I thought they were just coming down the street and all of a sudden they came charging at me,’ Tobin told ABC 4, explaining that the incident occurred shortly after he showed up to the demonstration.

‘Ten minutes before the armored vehicles showed up that’s when I got there. When I went down there to take pictures there was no mob scene. It was just a bunch of people standing around taking pictures. I was at the end.’

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9-E9kqQIs4w%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Tobin said he saw the officer coming at him, but he was unable to move out of the way quick enough.

‘He came charging at me with the shield saying “get back, get back, get back.”‘

Tobin said other demonstrators came to his aid and tried to call an ambulance, but it could not get through to him.

‘They stayed with me. Bandaged up some of my cuts on my arms,’ he said.

Tobin said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown called him the next day to apologize.

‘He said that’s not the way police are supposed to act, and he was going to look into it with internal affairs and the review board, and take action,’ Tobin said.

‘I told him whatever you’re going to do is fine with me,’ Tobin continued, adding that he he could speak to the officer who pushed him, he would say, ‘I hope you don’t do it again.’

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s office said the officer seen pushing Tobin has since been removed from patrol duties while Internal Affairs investigates the incident.

‘A cornerstone of the movement we’re seeing is transparency and accountability, and Salt Lake City fears neither,’ Mendenhall said Thursday.

‘We’ve received many comments and inquiries from the public seeking answers from some concerning things that have occurred. We welcome those requests.’

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