CHICAGO — The Chicago Police officer seen in a viral video grappling with a Black woman at North Avenue Beach has been placed on administrative duties, Supt. David Brown announced in a statement Monday.
Representatives for Nikkita Brown said she was walking her dog along the beach late Friday when the officer told her the site was closed. She claims there were white people within view who were not similarly ejected.
A scuffle caught on video ensued, although both parties eventually disengaged. Nikkita Brown says she was racially profiled.
“Superintendent David O. Brown this morning directed that the officer involved in an incident with a woman walking her dog along a lakefront beach be placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation” by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, a statement from the Chicago Police Department said.
COPA was reviewing video from a body-worn camera and pursuing leads on other sources of video, the watchdog agency said.
“We are committed to a fair, timely and objective investigation to determine if the actions of the involved officer are in accordance with Department Policy and Training,” COPA Interim Chief Andrea Kersten. “We have a responsibility to investigate allegations of police misconduct and determine if they are well founded based on the facts and evidence of each case. If violations did occur, COPA will hold the officer accountable.”
Mayor Lightfoot has expressed concern about widely circulated video of the incident. Supt. Brown has asked the public to be patient as COPA investigates and prepares a possible recommendation.
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