Jay-Z’s Team ROC Enlists Top Lawyers For Black Man Who Was Brutally Attacked By Police In Applebee’s After Being Mistaken For Hit-&-Run Suspect
Jay-Z’s Team ROC Enlists Top Lawyers For Black Man Who Was Brutally Attacked By Police In Applebee’s After Being Mistaken For Hit-&-Run Suspect
Jay-Z is helping bring justice to a young father!
According to reports, music mogul Jay-Z and his philanthropic division, Team ROC, have set out to come to the legal aid of a 24-year-old man who was unlawfully assaulted at an Applebee’s location last month.
As previously reported, in July, an innocent Jermelle English and Shanya Boyd were dining at the Kenosha, Wisconsin establishment with their 1-year-old son when a crew of police officers (seemingly) bum-rushed them.
Prior to the now-viral incident, a hit-and-run crash occurred, and authorities entered the restaurant in search of suspects who’d fled the scene. Upon arrival, the officers were said to have been directed to Jermelle English and Shanya Boyd after someone suggested that the Black family appeared “suspicious” and may have fit the description of the accused.
Following the tip, Jermelle English was violently thrust to the ground and aggressively detained with his young child in hand.
In the video, which has since surfaced online, bystanders can be heard begging for the youngster to be removed from English’s arms as he also yelled to be freed from the men’s restraint.
Sometime after, the toddler is taken from English, but enforcement then proceeded to tackle the Illinois man on his back and repeatedly strike him with their fists.
English and Shanya Boyd’s current lawyer said that one of the officers even used pepper spray in the vicinity of the baby boy, prompting him to be sent to the hospital. However, in another report, Kenosha Police alleged that the infant was examined on-site and didn’t endure any injuries.
Ultimately, it was discovered that the individuals who were responsible for the crime were hidden in Applebee’s restroom during the entire horrific event.
English and Boyd were both charged with resisting or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct. Additionally, Boyd received another misdemeanor for possession of marijuana.
Attorney Kevin O’Connor said,
“Simply being Black and going to dinner is not a crime. And on top of it, to throw salt in the wounds, they start charging these parents with resisting arrest and obstruction of police officers when the actual people were hiding in the bathroom.”
O’Connor added:
“How would you feel if you knew your child’s head was banged against a cabinet unnecessarily, your child got pepper sprayed–who’s barely one year old–and you don’t know the future consequences because police officers overreacted to a situation?”
Currently, the goal is for all charges to be dropped, and a lawsuit is in progress.
When speaking of the unfortunate matter, Team ROC’s Managing Director Dania Diaz told an outlet,
“The reckless arrest of Jermelle English Jr, and the careless endangerment of his infant child by the Kenosha Police Department is an absolutely travesty.”
Diaz concluded:
“The Team ROC team is here to support Jermelle and his family through this traumatic experience, demand justice, and hold the Kenosha police officers accountable.”
Team ROC is a social justice organization helmed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Powerhouse Alex Spiro will be representing English.
Their website reads of their mission:
“[Team ROC] maintains an unwavering commitment to activism and humanitarianism. We work to advance the fight for justice, social good, and meaningful impact, and we collaborate with partners across all industries to effect positive change in communities most harmed by inequity and systemic racism around the world.”
An in-depth investigation is underway. Details surrounding this case are still developing.
See footage from the attack here:
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