Aug. 9, 2023 6:15p
(WGTD)---The head of a group that was formed in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake three years ago is expressing concern over the treatment of a Black man at a Kenosha restaurant last month.
Tanya McLean and representatives of a couple of other community groups spoke to reporters and a small crowd that were gathered in front of Kenosha’s Public Safety Building Wednesday night.
A cell phone video shot by a patron of Applebee’s restaurant on 75th St. shows a Black man on the floor repeatedly being punched in the head by an officer. Police had gone to the restaurant as part of an investigation into a hit and run. The man they questioned had no involvement, and was in the restaurant with his family. When he tried to leave with his baby to go to a restroom, officers threw him to the floor and that’s when the beating took place.
McLean had some questions for the officers involved. "What is it that makes you feel as if you need to be so overly aggressive? So confrontational? Just like you're ready for a fight? she asked. "Just the complete disregard for people that do not look like you..."
The man who wound up on the restaurant floor is from Illinois, and didn’t attend the news conference. He reportedly has retained an attorney.
Police said they’re conducting an internal investigation into the incident.
McLean is pushing for the release of body cam video. She’s also asking residents to contact elected officials.
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