CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The parents of a woman at the center of a “use of force” investigation involving Charleston Police Department officers are speaking out and wanting justice.
Richard and Kimberly Gilmore of Charleston, and their daughter Freda Gilmore’s attorney Michael Cary spoke to MetroNews Thursday afternoon demanding the two officers who were shown on video wrestling Gilmore on the ground, with one throwing four punches to her head, face consequences for their actions.
“We know that an injustice occurred to my client Freda Gilmore,” Cary said. “We want to make sure that the city officials step up and take care of her. It’s Freda Gilmore today, who is it going to be tomorrow?”
The incident involving Gilmore took place on October 14 on Virginia Street West at around 9:30 p.m. A cellphone video taken by a bystander and posted on social media shortly after the incident, shows Patrol Officer Carlie McCoy restraining Gilmore on the ground outside of a Family Dollar and requesting backup. McCoy was unable to get Gilmore in handcuffs.
A second officer, identified in reports as Patrolman Joshua Mena, arrives on the scene, drops to his knees and throws four punches to Gilmore’s head in an attempt to subdue.
Dashcam footage released by the police department earlier this week showed more of the incident including McCoy throwing punches as Gilmore appeared to be resisting arrest and keeping her hands in her pockets.
Kimberly Gilmore said she is extremely appreciative of the community support her daughter and her family have received. She also expressed gratitude for the bystander who took the original recording, which led to the “use of force” investigation.
“As I watch the video, it’s upsetting, it hurt me and made me cry,” Kimberly Gilmore told MetroNews. “What made me angrier is they did not take her to the hospital. They didn’t take her to the hospital for her injuries, they took her straight to jail. That within itself was very wrong.”
“She’s only 98 pounds. That other officer was sitting on top of her and pretty much restraint. I don’t know why they both just didn’t grab her arms. Why did they think it was necessary for them to punch her and beat her in the face repeatedly? I just don’t understand that.”
According to a criminal complaint, Gilmore was arrested after police say she had a dead puppy in her pocket. Police investigated the alleged animal cruelty incident as well as a fight between her and another woman outside of the Family Dollar. The criminal complaint further stated that Gilmore was being uncooperative with officers, refusing to remove her hands from her pockets and walking away, which caused action by McCoy.
Gilmore, who Cary said has special needs, has since been released from jail on personal recognizance bond after being charged with animal cruelty and resisting arrest.
The officers were put on paid administrative leave by Police Chief Opie Smith as an investigation continues. Smith said on October 17 the investigation would be put on the fast track and would take no longer than two weeks.
On Tuesday, Smith told reporters, “I just think people should just take a step back. I understand the first video, it had a different angle but there was another angle. People just need to take a step back and wait for the investigation.”
The department also announced additional training on how to make arrests in stressful situations will take place for officers.
Freda Gilmore’s father said the decision by the department should be simple.
“I don’t think they should be on the force anymore, that’s what I want,” Richard Gilmore said. “I don’t think they should be on the police force anymore. It’s nonsense what they did to my daughter and I don’t think they should be an officer anymore.”
Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin said on Wednesday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline’ that Officer McCoy found herself in a very dangerous situation. Goodwin said, “When you are non-compliant with an officer who is trying to break up a fight and you’re not taking your hands out of your pockets that is a danger to the police officer.”
Cary disagrees with Goodwin’s statement and believes the city must act to improve relationships between the public and law enforcement.
“When those videos were released, there was an expression that the officers were the ones in danger. I beg to differ. I believe that Freda Gilmore was the one in danger. She was the one who was subject to the beating of these two officers,” Cary said.
“Everyone at this point, especially in the city of Charleston, we are tired of being afraid of the individuals who have taken an oath to serve and protect us. We are tired of being afraid of the police officers and there are good officers. It’s up to the city officials to make sure that there are only good officers in the city of Charleston.”
As Cary and the Gilmore family wait for the police department’s investigation with the mayor’s office and community group RESET to end, they said they have already made their decision.
“We are grabbing our evidence and filing a complaint in Kanawha County Circuit Court,” Cary said.
“Because until there is accountability, there won’t be any justice.”