FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) – An investigation into the use of force by a Myers Fort Myers police officer is underway.
The incident occurred on May 2 when 19-year-old Ezarius Lockwood and Easter Clarence Alexander were forced to stop traffic on May 2 at the intersection of Henderson and Lincoln in Fort Myers.
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The teens rose to the back of the police and rang their horns, reportedly informing him that they were behind them. WBBH has chosen not to name the officers as no claims have been filed at the time of this report.
The video shows officers approaching the man, offering his gun and pointing him at Lockwood. After the teens demand that they return to the car, officers slam Alexander into the car.
“I asked him, ‘What are you going to do, will you shoot me?” He was like ‘rigging into the car’ but I know me, and if I were to get into the car, he really scared and scared of my life,” Alexander told WBBH.
Lockwood claimed he tried to escalate the situation before officers could monitor him.
The victim’s family believes that the officer must be taken from his position and held accountable. They met with the president of the NAACP to involve them.
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However, Mike Hollow, a retired 20-year executive, spoke with WBBH, saying the video didn’t tell the entire story and the man clearly failed to follow the officer’s orders.
“I really know what fell and I’m going to stick to what I’m seeing,” Alexander told the news outlet.
Fort Myers police have issued the following statement:
Chieffield recognizes videos currently circulating on social media that portray some of the interactions involving FMPD officers trying to carry out a traffic top. I would like to emphasize that the shared video footage represents only a portion of the actual incident. For each policy, the police conduct a thorough review of the forces used in response to resistance.
We are aware of the concerns expressed by members of our community. Transparency and trust form the basis of our relationship with the people we serve and we take these issues very seriously. As reviews progress, we will provide updates while maintaining the integrity of the process. We look for your patience in conducting a fair and comprehensive assessment of the event. Our goal is to ensure the safety of our communities and take responsibility for our citizens.
Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields is urging the public to remain patient when conducting investigations.
