Photo: Getty Images
Chicago police said they've launched an investigation into the arrest of a Black man who officers pointed a gun at and hit with a radio.
According to ABC7, the arrest of Lorenzo Williams unfolded last week on the city's Near North Side.
Video posted to social media shows Williams on the ground while police hit him with a radio and put a gun in his face.
According to police, the video didn't capture Williams' full interaction with officers. Police said the officers were watching an area known for gang and illegal drug activities when they approached Williams and he ran. When officers caught Williams, police said he tried to grab a loaded gun in his waistband and didn't comply with commands.
Williams was charged with four counts of resisting arrest, aggravated assault of an officer and unlawful possession of a firearm.
A rally was held last week calling for the officers involved to be fired and for Williams' charges to be dropped.
"What they did to my child is very wrong," Williams' mother said. "It was real bad for me to look at. I almost lost my mind when I saw it, because he could've killed my child... He beat him in the head with a walkie talkie first. That was wrong. I didn't like that at all."
The Chicago Police Department confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the arrest.
"Yes. We are aware of the video," Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said. "It's not a complete video. It doesn't show everything. What I can tell you right now is that... that ended in an arrest, there was a gun recovery at the time. But what I will tell you is that the Chicago Police Department, myself, we take these things seriously. There's an internal investigation that's been launched. The night that this occurred, there was a complaint register number pulled by one of our members just to make sure that this is investigated properly. And as the investigation unfolds, we'll be getting out more information."
Williams is also suing the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, alleging assault and battery.
Watch video of the arrest here.
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