Delaware Attorney General looking into teen's arrest caught on video

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Delaware teen, Roger Brown, released from jail: as seen on Action News at 11 p.m., February 18, 2019

The Delaware Attorney General has opened an investigation into the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in New Castle that was recorded on video.

Roger Brown was released from custody on Monday evening.

Brown's family questions the officers' aggression while trying to subdue him Friday outside his home on Bellamy Drive, saying the officers repeatedly punched the teen.

Mary Fleming said while she was not there when her 16-year-old son was arrested, she has seen the video of two plainclothes officers struggling on the ground with Brown.

"My son is trying to cover his face up while one officer is holding him down and one has his knee on his face and neck and is punching him repeatedly," said Fleming.

In the video, a uniformed officer appears and tells the teen recording the video to back away.

The teen said he decided to roll tape after police went after his friend.

"Roger was confused. He didn't know what was going on. The other cop ran up and grabbed him and threw him on the ground and started punching him," Fleming said.

The suspect's family says it was the revving of a dirt bike engine that brought police to the neighborhood; police say it was drug dealing complaint.

Police allege they discovered bags of marijuana, a scale, prescription pills and $1,000 on Brown.

Attorney claims police brutality in arrest of teen in New Castle County: John Rawlins reports on Action News at 6 p.m., February 18, 2019

"I know nothing about that," said Fleming. "I know that definitely was not his. There is no way my son had a thousand dollars."

The family's attorney Chris Johnson says the video shows unreasonable force being employed to arrest a 16-year-old who weighs 130 pounds.

"If this officer used excessive force, which we believe he did, he needs to be held accountable and suspended and further action taken," said Johnson.