Louisville NAACP, Urban League Call for Answers After Teen's Arrest at St. Joe’s Picnic

Officials from Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) and Louisville Branch NAACP are calling for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to provide answers and launch an investigation into the forceful arrest of a Black girl at St. Joe’s Picnic for the Kids the evening of Aug. 9 that was captured in a widely-circulated video.

In an Aug. 12 letter to Jefferson County Sheriff John Aubrey, Louisville Urban League President and CEO, Lyndon Pryor requested several records from the office related to the incident, including body camera footage, incident reports and details related to the teen's charges. The letter also calls for "a completely transparent, thorough and impartial investigation" that results in disciplinary action, if warranted.

"These actions represent a serious breach of public trust and a profound violation of civil rights, prompting immediate and significant concern within the Louisville Urban League and the wider community," the letter states.

Lt. Col. Carl Yates, a spokesperson for JCSO, told The Courier Journal in a written statement Aug. 11 that the girl was charged with criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and disregarding the lawful order of a law enforcement officer.

Video of the incident, which has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, shows the girl running away from the deputy as he grabs her hair. She then falls to the ground, and the deputy climbs on top of her back and attempts to handcuff her as several people watch.

People who witnessed part of the interaction between the deputy and the girl leading up to the use of force told The Courier Journal the girl did not appear to act aggressively toward the deputy.

In an interview, Pryor said the deputy's actions were unacceptable given the subject's age, regardless of how the series of events truly unfolded.

"We talk about the need for police to learn how to de-escalate with grown people — quite frankly, with grown people with weapons," Pryor said. "We call for them to have the ability to act reasonably, responsibly and non-aggressively in those sorts of situations. By all means, you ought to be able to handle yourself accordingly with a child, who, if we are to believe their story, is only wielding their fist."

In the letter, the Louisville Urban League called for a "comprehensive review" of JCSO's policies and training protocols, specifically as they relate to use of force against minors, de-escalation techniques, interactions with youth at public events and handling of alleged criminal trespassing.

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