Thumbs up: Release of video in Petaluma police brutality case

Release of video

After much pressure, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday finally released the body camera video of a heated confrontation between deputies and a Petaluma family that ended with a teenager injured and the filing of a police brutality lawsuit.

The video, which is posted on pressdemocrat.com, shows the mother, sisters and 18-year-old Gabbi Lemos arguing with Deputy Marcus Holton, who stopped at their Liberty Road home to investigate what he said was a possible disturbance. The video shows the moments when the teen was injured when she was thrown to the ground, handcuffed and taken into custody on suspicion of resisting arrest. But the lighting is poor.

The family of Lemos is claiming brutality and contends the district attorney’s decision to renew charges against Lemos is retaliatory. Prosecutors claim the video supports the actions of the deputy and the decision by the county to prosecute. Frankly, nobody looks good in this video, including the combative family members and the deputy who never explained why he needed to open the truck door to remove one of the sisters for questioning. That was the action that triggered most of the conflict. But all of this could have been avoided if cooler heads had prevailed. This thumbs up is for the release of the video. Everyone involved in the confrontation gets a downward digit.