Indiana Police Accused of Using Excessive Force on Elderly Woman During Arrest
An incident involving the Portage, Indiana police department has sparked controversy and accusations of excessive force as an elderly woman was injured during the arrest of her son. The incident, which took place earlier this week, has gained significant attention, with the family of the 81-year-old woman claiming that the police officers were too rough with her.
The situation unfolded when police responded to a call regarding the woman’s son, Eduardo Garcia. Allegedly, Eduardo had threatened one of his tenants with a pipe, prompting the tenant to contact the authorities. Ongoing disputes between Eduardo and the tenants have been the source of tension.
When the police arrived at the woman’s house to apprehend Eduardo, they found him in a truck parked on the driveway. Despite repeated requests to exit the vehicle, Eduardo refused, resulting in the police officers forcibly removing him from the truck and restraining him on the ground.
It was at this point that the elderly woman, identified as Rosa Maria Garcia, intervened. Describing her actions as those of a protective mother bear, Rosa Maria attempted to plead with the police officers to release her son. However, the police report states that she interfered with the arrest by attempting to push one of the officers away from Eduardo and positioning herself between them.
The situation escalated further when Rosa Maria allegedly got on the officer’s back in an effort to protect her son. In response, the officer pushed her off, causing her to fall to the ground. The family of the elderly woman maintains that the officer’s actions were too forceful and unnecessary, especially considering her age and frailty.
Sadly, the incident resulted in Rosa Maria Garcia being hospitalized the next day due to injuries sustained during the altercation. Her arms and hands were bruised, she suffered a fracture, and her shoulder was dislocated. Rosa Maria was left in pain and struggling to even use her left arm.
In an unexpected turn of events, the police officer involved in the altercation has chosen to press charges against Rosa Maria. He claims that she grabbed his right arm and caused it to bleed. As a result, the elderly woman is now facing charges of battery against law enforcement and resisting law enforcement.
The family finds it difficult to understand how Rosa Maria, who stands at just 5 feet 3 inches tall, could pose a significant threat to the officer, who easily towers over her at around 6 feet 3 inches. They question the need for such a rapid and forceful response, particularly when she was already on the ground.
The Portage police department has reviewed the body camera footage from the incident and has declared its support for the officer’s actions. Consequently, they have decided against further investigation into the matter.
This incident raises important questions about the use of force by law enforcement officers, particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly. It remains to be seen how this controversy will be resolved and what action will be taken to address the concerns raised by Rosa Maria Garcia’s family. As the situation unfolds, it is crucial that a fair and thorough investigation takes place to evaluate the actions of the police officers involved.
