Family questions why police had to take 76-year-old woman to ground to arrest her
Jayne Miller
I-Team Reporter
IS UNDER REVIEW. THE ARREST OF 76-YEAR-OLD RENA MELLERSON HAPPENED AT HER HOME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. POLICE HAD GONE THERE LOOKING FOR HER GRANDDAUGHTER. THE VIDEO SHOWS ONE OFFICER IN THE DOORWAY WHEN ANOTHER OFFICER ARRIVES AND RUNS TO THE HOUSE. >> I DIDN'T DO NOTHING. REPORTER: MELLERSON WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND. >> SHE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A MOVING VIOLATION. REPORTER: SHE IS RENA MELLERSON'S DAUGHTER. >> EVERY TIME SHE THINK'S ABOUT IT SHE STARTS SHAKING. HAD TO TAKE MY MOTHER TO THE HOSPITAL. REPORTER: SHE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY HURT, BUT HANDCUFFED, TAKEN TO THE GROUND AND INTO CUSTODY. >> NEIGHBORS QUESTIONS THE USE OF FORCE. REPORTER: OFFICER SAY MELLERSON INTERVEED IN THE ARREST OF HER GRANDDAUGHTER. THE ARREST TOOK PLACE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THEY SAY THEY GRANDDAUGHTER CURSED AT THEM AND CAUSED A SCENE. BUT THEY DID NOT ARREST OR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SEE HER LEAVE. ONE OFFICER USED MVA RECORDS TO TRACK HER TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER -- GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE. THEY MADE NO MENTION OF HAVING AN ARREST WARRANT AND USED PEPPER SPRAY AND TASER INSIDE RENA MELLERSON'S HOUSE SAYING SHE HAD MOVED TOWARD HIM IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER. HIS FOOT WAS CAUGHT IN A DOOR. THE GRANDDAUGHTER CIERRA FLOYD WAS ALSO ARRESTED. BY THE TIME RENA MELLERSON WAS TAKEN FROM HER HOME, SIX OFFICERS SURROUNDED. RENA MELLERSON IS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, INTERFERING ARREST AND OBSTRUCTING AND HINDERING. SARIA FLOYD -- CIERRA FLOYD IS CHARGED WITH SIMILAR. THERE WAS A MEETING WITH THE UNIT TOMORROW. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN FRONT OF CHILDREN IN RENA MELLE
Family and neighbors are questioning why it was necessary for Baltimore County police officers to pull a 76-year-old woman out of her house and throw her to the ground.The 11 News I-Team obtained video Monday of the arrest that was recorded by a neighbor on her cellphone. Police also have video from the officers' body-worn cameras.Rena Mellerson was arrested Friday afternoon at her house in Gwynn Oak. Police went there looking for her granddaughter.The video obtained by the I-Team shows one officer in the doorway when another officer arrives and runs to the house. Mellerson was thrown on the ground."My mother is a 76-year-old woman, lives alone, minds her business, never broke the law. She doesn't even have a moving violation," said Mellerson's daughter, Barbara Mellerson. "For her to go through something like this is ridiculous, and every time she thinks about it, she starts shaking. I had to take my mother to the hospital."Rena Mellerson was not seriously hurt. She was handcuffed, arrested and taken into custody. Officers said she interfered with the arrest of her granddaughter on a charge of disorderly conduct a short time earlier at a different location, where police said the granddaughter cursed at officers and caused a scene. But officers did not arrest the granddaughter at the time, saying they didn't see her leave.Charging documents reveal one officer used Motor Vehicle Administration records to track her to her grandmother's house."They tracked her down like she was a fugitive," Barbara Mellerson said.Officers made no mention of having an arrest warrant for the granddaughter, the family said. An officer used pepper spray and Tasers inside Rena Mellerson's house, saying her granddaughter had moved toward him in what he called an aggressive manner. His foot was caught in the door.The granddaughter, Cierra Floyd, was also arrested. By the time Rena Mellerson was taken from her house, six officers surrounded her.Rena Mellerson was charged with assault, interfering with an arrest and obstructing and hindering.Floyd was charged with a similar violation, plus disorderly conduct.A Baltimore County Police Department spokesman told the I-Team the incident is under review.Chief Melissa Hyatt released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying, "A video that recorded a portion of an interaction between Baltimore County Police Department officers and two individuals Friday afternoon has garnered public attention and concern. The video is unsettling to watch."I have ordered a thorough investigation of the incident in its entirety. Part of the review includes viewing body-worn camera footage of the entire incident, along with interview and review of other documentation. Upon completion of this expedited investigation, the body-worn footage will be released."I thank the individual who taped the incident - our residents are important partners in our communities. We hold our officers t a high standard of accountability. Maintaining the trust of those who live, work and visit Baltimore County is paramount as we continue to work together to keep communities safe."Barbara Mellerson said she has spoken with the Internal Affairs Division of the Baltimore County Police Department. She has a meeting with the unit Tuesday.
Family and neighbors are questioning why it was necessary for Baltimore County police officers to pull a 76-year-old woman out of her house and throw her to the ground.
The 11 News I-Team obtained video Monday of the arrest that was recorded by a neighbor on her cellphone. Police also have video from the officers' body-worn cameras.
Rena Mellerson was arrested Friday afternoon at her house in Gwynn Oak. Police went there looking for her granddaughter.
The video obtained by the I-Team shows one officer in the doorway when another officer arrives and runs to the house. Mellerson was thrown on the ground.
"My mother is a 76-year-old woman, lives alone, minds her business, never broke the law. She doesn't even have a moving violation," said Mellerson's daughter, Barbara Mellerson. "For her to go through something like this is ridiculous, and every time she thinks about it, she starts shaking. I had to take my mother to the hospital."
Rena Mellerson was not seriously hurt. She was handcuffed, arrested and taken into custody. Officers said she interfered with the arrest of her granddaughter on a charge of disorderly conduct a short time earlier at a different location, where police said the granddaughter cursed at officers and caused a scene. But officers did not arrest the granddaughter at the time, saying they didn't see her leave.
Charging documents reveal one officer used Motor Vehicle Administration records to track her to her grandmother's house.
"They tracked her down like she was a fugitive," Barbara Mellerson said.
Officers made no mention of having an arrest warrant for the granddaughter, the family said. An officer used pepper spray and Tasers inside Rena Mellerson's house, saying her granddaughter had moved toward him in what he called an aggressive manner. His foot was caught in the door.
The granddaughter, Cierra Floyd, was also arrested. By the time Rena Mellerson was taken from her house, six officers surrounded her.
Rena Mellerson was charged with assault, interfering with an arrest and obstructing and hindering.
Floyd was charged with a similar violation, plus disorderly conduct.
A Baltimore County Police Department spokesman told the I-Team the incident is under review.
Chief Melissa Hyatt released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying, "A video that recorded a portion of an interaction between Baltimore County Police Department officers and two individuals Friday afternoon has garnered public attention and concern. The video is unsettling to watch.
"I have ordered a thorough investigation of the incident in its entirety. Part of the review includes viewing body-worn camera footage of the entire incident, along with interview and review of other documentation. Upon completion of this expedited investigation, the body-worn footage will be released.
"I thank the individual who taped the incident - our residents are important partners in our communities. We hold our officers t a high standard of accountability. Maintaining the trust of those who live, work and visit Baltimore County is paramount as we continue to work together to keep communities safe."
Barbara Mellerson said she has spoken with the Internal Affairs Division of the Baltimore County Police Department. She has a meeting with the unit Tuesday.
New: Baltimore County police chief says body worn camera footage will be released of arrest of 76 yr old woman when internal investigation concludes.
Video taken by bystander shows officer throwing the unarmed woman to the ground https://t.co/xKkWwL4zXH
— Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) January 14, 2020
Baltimore County family asks why 76 year old woman was thrown to the ground by county police during arrest. Unarmed. Police say she interfered with arrest of her granddaughter on charge of disorderly conduct. On video: pic.twitter.com/icR0iCzbDL
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