INDIANAPOLIS — New details involving the teen punched by a Metro police officer outside of an Indianapolis high school came to light on Thursday. The teen's family, their lawyer and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officials met for the first time Thursday since the incident last week.
The lawyer for Danielle Pointer and two teenagers is grateful an eyewitness recorded the entire incident compared to the initial short video.
Developing details revealed the 17-year-old punched by Metro police officer, Robert Lawson, is suspended from Shortridge High School. The family's lawyer, Terrance Kinnard, says the teen was being bullied at the school and was assaulted last Thursday. A fight inside of the high school led to the call for police.
Outside the building, officer Lawson threatened to arrest the teen's mother, who was upset. According to the lawyer, the teen approached the officer because he thought he was also going to be arrested before the officer hit him.
"No one made any aggressive remarks. No one was disrespectful to the officers," Terrance Kinnard, the family's attorney, said. "This was simply an unprovoked striking by an officer, in my opinion — our opinion — was not following training or experience. "
Kinnard described the 17-year-old teen as a good student with two part-time jobs who also tutors elementary school kids.
Additionally, the Fraternal Order of Police also has asked that all facts be gathered in this incident.
Rick Snyder, with the Fraternal Order of Police, said:
"...we ask that members of our community including various leaders and trusted voices refrain from speculation, conjecture or statements that may appear to prejudge or compromise the review process. Our Indianapolis police officers remain committed to protecting our city i ongoing service to our residents and visitors."
The teen's lawyer is hoping other videos will surface. They've asked the school district for all surveillance videos recorded that afternoon.
