Celena Morrison, the executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia, and her husband, Darius McLean, were arrested by a Pennsylvania state trooper during a traffic stop on March 1, 2024. The arrest was captured on video by Morrison, and showed a heated and violent confrontation between the couple and the officer. The incident sparked outrage and controversy, and prompted an investigation by the Philadelphia district attorney’s office and the state police.
Background and Release
According to the state police, the trooper pulled over a gray Infiniti sedan driven by McLean on Interstate 76 at 9:09 a.m., after observing “multiple vehicle code violations”. Before the trooper approached the driver, a green Dodge sedan driven by Morrison arrived at the scene and parked behind the trooper’s patrol vehicle. The trooper then approached the Dodge and asked Morrison to move her car, but she refused and became “verbally combative” toward the trooper.
The trooper then attempted to arrest Morrison, who resisted and interfered with the trooper’s actions. McLean also got out of his car and intervened, and a physical struggle ensued. The trooper used force and threatened to use a Taser to subdue the couple, while Morrison recorded the incident on her phone.
The video showed the trooper punching Morrison and throwing her to the ground, and McLean being pinned down and handcuffed. The video also captured the couple’s protests and accusations of racism and police brutality.
The couple were taken into custody and transported to a state police barracks, where they were charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and other offenses. They were released later that day on bail, and are scheduled to appear in court on March 15, 2024.
Reaction and Investigation
The video of the arrest went viral on social media, and drew widespread criticism and condemnation from the public, the media, and the political leaders. Many people expressed their anger and disbelief at the trooper’s use of excessive force and violence, and called for his suspension and prosecution. They also expressed their support and sympathy for Morrison and McLean, who are prominent and respected members of the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said that the video was “very concerning” and that she was “deeply disturbed” by the incident. She said that she had contacted the state police commissioner and the district attorney to request a thorough and transparent investigation. She also said that she had reached out to Morrison and McLean to offer her assistance and resources.
The district attorney’s office said that it was reviewing the case and the evidence, and that it would make a decision on whether to prosecute the couple or the trooper based on the facts and the law. The office also said that it would not tolerate any abuse of power or violation of civil rights by law enforcement officers.
The state police said that they had launched an internal investigation into the incident, and that the trooper involved had been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the probe. The state police also said that they respected the rights and dignity of all citizens, and that they would cooperate with the district attorney’s office and the court system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Celena Morrison and Darius McLean were arrested by a state trooper during a traffic stop on March 1, 2024, in a violent and controversial incident that was recorded on video. The couple were charged with multiple offenses, but were released on bail. The incident sparked outrage and controversy, and prompted an investigation by the district attorney’s office and the state police. The incident also raised questions and concerns about the use of force and the treatment of minorities by law enforcement officers.