Mayor to pardon man who filmed KC officers arresting woman, leading to indictments
Mayor Quinton Lucas will pardon a Kansas City man who was convicted of a city ordinance for failing to move his car last year while videotaping police officers forcibly arrest a black transgender woman.
Jackson County prosecutors cited Roderick Reed’s video when they announced a grand jury indicted the officers, Matthew Brummett and Charles Prichard. Each face a misdemeanor assault charge for “recklessly causing pain” to Breona, or “Briya,” Hill as she was being handcuffed outside a beauty supply store.
Lucas said Thursday he would sign the pardon order so citizens know they “have a right to film police conduct.”
He noted the pardon did not relate to the charges filed against the officers.
Reed witnessed part of the encounter and began recording the arrest on his cellphone. He started recording after he saw one of the police officers strike the woman with a closed fist, according to court records.
The officers noticed Reed was recording from his vehicle and was issued the ordinance for allegedly interfering with Hill’s arrest by filming the incident and blocking traffic.
He was convicted in municipal court in February and sentenced to 30 days in jail and a year of probation. He requested a new trial.
Because he appealed and posted bond, Benita Jones, the court’s spokesperson, said she didn’t believe he served any of the sentence.
Wanting to ensure residents like Reed can record the actions of officers, the City Council’s Finance, Governance and Public Safety committee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass and fast-track legislation to amend the ordinance officers used to cite Reed.
The full City Council is expected to hear the issue Thursday afternoon.
The Star’s Allison Kite and Kaitlyn Schwers contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 2:27 PM.
