A Pennsylvania police officer tased a sitting suspect in the back, and video of the incident is going viral. A Facebook video shows a man since identified as Sean Williams, 27, on a sidewalk as a Lancaster police officer, identified as Philip Bernot, gives him instructions to sit on the curb. Bernot can be seen pointing his Electronic Control Device (ECD) towards Williams while he speaks. Bernot tells Williams to put his legs "straight out," which he does. Bernot then tells Williams to cross his ankles. As Williams begins to pull his legs back, Bernot, who is standing behind the seated man, shoots his ECD into Williams' back. "Oh come on, bruh. You're really going to tase him? He was sitting down," shouts the bystander who captured the incident on camera. "That's crazy. That's why I record everything." Lancaster Mayor Danene responded to the incident after the video circulated. Sorace said in her own Facebook video that she was "upset" by the initial video. She went on to say that the use of force was taken "very seriously" and announced an investigation was underway. Sorace also mentioned communication with civil rights groups and confirmed her support for a body camera initiative. A report from the Lancaster police offers one explanation for the events leading up to the tasing. An Officer Mazzante responded to an initial call in the area about a disturbance. The caller accused Williams of going after them on the street. Mazzante came across a group fitting the caller's description and told Williams to sit down after he repeatedly told one of the females in the group that he wanted his Social Security card. Mazzante repeated her instructions "several times" before Bernot took over. The subsequent events were captured on video and posted online. Emergency medical services followed protocol by performing a check on Williams. Officers took him into custody after finding an outstanding warrant, which charges were listed as "Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCP) and Public Drunkeness." He was later released on a $5,000 bail.<doc-sep>A Pennsylvania mayor has responded to a viral video showing a police officer tasing an unarmed black man who was siting down on a sidewalk curb in the back. Danene Sorace, the mayor of Lancaster, said that an investigation into the incident on Thursday made her upset, and that the video has reaffirmed her commitment to deploy body cameras to all officers in the City of Lancaster. “Like you, when I saw the video I was upset by it and it is of great concern to me,” Ms Sorace said in her statement. “We take the use of force very seriously”. Recommended Video shows Arizona police violently beating unarmed black man A video of the incident captured by a bystander shows the man, later identified as 27-year-old Sean Williams, sitting down on the curb with his arms outstretched and resting on his knees. Officers repeatedly tell him to extend his legs straight out, and he then extends them slightly. When an officer tells him to cross his legs, his feet move towards each other and the officer shoots the electric charge into his back. The video, posted originally on Facebook, quickly went viral online, attracting more than 115,000 views and 3,600 shares. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut.<doc-sep>A crowd of protesters gathered on the steps of an old courthouse in southern Pennsylvania on Friday evening, one day after a video posted on social media showed a local officer using a Taser on an unarmed black man sitting on a sidewalk. The dozens of demonstrators outside Lancaster County Courthouse were calling for an end to police brutality and an external investigation into the police officer's use of force. "I think there needs to be higher police accountability to the community," one of the protesters, Brandon Roe of Lancaster County, told ABC affiliate WHTM. "It just shows the numbers in solidarity that this movement has, that we need more respect for people's rights, the rights of the accused, the rights of our communities to be treated with respect." "It's not OK for police to treat some people different than others," another protester, Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck of nearby Fayette County, told WHTM. "When it's a systematic problem, then I think there has to be a systematic response." Sean Williams, the 27-year-old shown in the video having the Taser used on him, was at the rally Friday night. He declined to speak to reporters on camera, but thanked the media for being there, according to WHTM. The widely-shared video of the incident, taken by a bystander, shows at least two police officers ordering Williams to sit down on a sidewalk curb in Lancaster. Williams complies. The officers then repeatedly direct Williams to put his legs "straight out" in front of him. "Legs straight out or you're getting tased," a male officer standing behind Williams can be heard saying in the video, with his Taser drawn. "Put your legs straight out and cross them now," a female officer yells. Williams appears to begin following the officers' orders by straightening his legs but then folds them back again. That's when the male officer fires his Taser. Williams writhes in pain on the ground, with the Taser's dart-like probes attached to his back. The male officer then orders Williams to stay flat on his stomach with his "arms out like an airplane." More officers then arrive on the scene, and Williams is placed in handcuffs. According to the police report, the encounter with Williams stemmed from a 911 call authorities received on Thursday morning reporting that a man "with a bat" went after a group of three other persons. Lancaster Police Officer Shannon Mazzante responded to the call and came across a group of three individuals "telling a male to get away from them," the report said. Mazzante told the man, identified by police as Williams, to sit down "several times" but he didn't comply. Williams wouldn't leave a woman in the group alone and "kept repeating that he wanted a specific item, his Social Security card, from her," according to the report. Lancaster Police Officer Philip Bernot arrived on the scene soon after and warned Williams that a Taser would be used if he didn't listen to their orders. "Williams was instructed to stick his legs straight out in front of him and to cross his ankles. This is done as a measure of control to ensure that if someone is going to flee or offer physical resistance, they will have to move their legs under them to do so. Noncompliance is often a precursor to someone that is preparing to flee or fight with officers," the report said. The report said Bernot deployed the Taser after Williams "failed to follow instructions." Williams was then taken into custody "without further incident or use of force," according to the report. The group that had been apparently telling Williams to get away told police that they knew him and he "had been exhibiting increasing erratic behavior over the previous few days." They said Williams had been outside a residence earlier and wanted to fight with them. But the group said they did not see Williams with a bat, and no bat was found at the scene, the report said. Juan Almestica, the bystander who took the video, told ABC News that he went outside his home after hearing a commotion. Almestica said the man had his hands up and told police, "I don't want no trouble." "I could see the officer was still being aggressive with him and aiming his Taser, so that's why I decided to start filming," Almestica told ABC News in a telephone interview Friday. "One of the officers is telling him to put his legs straight, and another one is telling him to cross his legs. There were so many people shouting at him, he didn’t know what to do. Then they tased him because they said he wasn’t listening." Upon apprehending Williams, police learned that there was an outstanding criminal warrant for his arrest for possession of a controlled substance and public drunkenness. Williams was taken into custody on the warrant and transported to the police station, according to the police report. Williams was checked by emergency medical services, "as is protocol" with every use of an electronic control device, the police report said. He was later released on unsecured $5,000 bail. Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace said an investigation into the incident is underway. "Like you, when I saw the video I was upset by it, and it is of great concern to me," Sorace said in a video posted to her Facebook page Friday. "We take the use of force very seriously. There is an investigation that has already commenced." ABC News' Enjoli Francis, Fergal Gallagher, Michael Kreisel and Dominick Proto contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
An investigation is underway after video of police in Lancaster, Pennsylvania tasing a man went viral. Police say they were called to S. Prince Street around 10:15 a.m. Thursday in Lancaster after a person reported that a man armed with a bat was chasing after three other people near the intersection of S. Prince and W. Mifflin streets. An officer who arrived at the scene says she saw three people telling a man, identified as Sean Williams, 27, to get away from them. The officer says she repeatedly told Williams to sit down but he didn’t listen. Williams kept telling a woman that he wanted her to give him his Social Security card, according to the officer. A second officer then arrived at the scene. It was at this point that a witness, Juan Almestica, began recording the encounter. The video, which was posted on Facebook, shows one of the officers instructing Williams to sit on a curb. Williams sits down and the officer then repeatedly tells him to put his legs “straight out.” As Williams’ knees remain bent, the officer tells him “legs straight out or you’re getting tased.” A second officer also tells him “put your legs straight out and cross them now.” “This is done as a measure of control to insure that if someone is going to flee or offer physical resistance, they will have to move their legs under them to do so,” a Lancaster Police spokesperson wrote. “Non-compliance is often a precursor to someone that is preparing to flee or fight with Officers.” Williams puts his legs out and then moves them back toward the curb. The officer then shoots him with a taser causing him to writhe on the ground in pain. “You’re really gonna tase him? He was sitting down,” Almestica says. The officers then order Williams to lie on his stomach and put his arms out. A total of four officers then gather around him, place him in handcuffs and take him into custody. Almestica later told WGAL Williams may have been confused by the officers’ commands. “He first put them straight and then she said cross your legs, so he tried to cross his legs, tased him in the back,” Almestica said. Police say a group of people claimed Williams had been acting erratically in the days prior to his arrest. The group said Williams had wanted to fight with them and was also trying to keep a woman from entering her apartment, according to police. However, contrary to the 911 call, the group also said they did not see Williams holding a bat and a bat was never found at the scene. Williams had an outstanding criminal warrant for his arrest prior to Thursday’s incident, according to police. He was originally charged with possession of a controlled substance (PCP) and public drunkenness. Lancaster Police Williams was taken into custody on the outstanding warrant, transported to the station and checked by EMS, according to police. He was then cleared, arraigned and released on unsecured $5,000 bail. Williams told WGAL he followed all the directions he was given and didn’t know why he was tased. The video of police tasing and arresting Williams went viral and sparked anger from some who believed the use of a taser was not necessary. The video also prompted a response from Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace. Sorace posted a video on Facebook stating that an investigation was underway regarding the use of force in the incident. “Like you when I saw the video I was upset by it and it is a great concern to me,” she said. “We take the use of force very seriously.” Sorace said she was in contact with civil rights groups and that the investigation into the incident would continue over “the coming days.” Sorace also said the incident affirmed her resolve to implement a body camera program for Lancaster. “We are currently awaiting word related to some federal grant funds from the Department of Justice related to funding and look forward to continuing to keep the public abreast of those developments as well as the outcome of this investigation,” she said. Lancaster Police have not revealed whether or not the officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave.