Dad Holding Daughter Arrested for Evading El Fare, But Questions Remain Over Use of Force

[KamaAina]

Any guesses as to what color he is? Place your bets!

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/SEPTA-Talks-About-Caught-on-Video-Arrest-That-Went-Viral-310139281.html

A father whose arrest was caught on video and went viral online after he supposedly didn't pay a subway fare for his young daughter was actually taken into custody for not paying his fare in Philadelphia, SEPTA police said. But now the altercation between him and police is under scrutiny.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Police Chief Thomas Nestel said Ellis Smith skipped out on the $2.25 payment while entering the westbound tracks of SEPTA's Market-Frankford El at the Margaret-Orthodox station Thursday afternoon. A cashier notified police which dispatched an officer to investigate.

A video of the incident was posted to Facebook by the mother of another passenger claiming the 20-year-old father was being harassed for not paying the toddler's fare. Children under 4 ride for free.

The video showed a number of police grabbing Smith as he clutched his daughter, in her pink dress and with braids in her hair, near a subway platform wall. Outrage swiftly ensued as people demanded answers about the arrest.

[randys1]

1. OK...this ONE video/incident ALONE would result in the entire COUNTRY burned to the ground

if you reverse the rolls...all power has been Black forever, cops are mostly Black, and Black cops or any cops do this to a white dad and his white daughter

NOTHING would be left standing

Glad the AfAm community is so patient and reasonable?

BTW, doesnt matter if the cop attacking him is Black or white, BTW

I dont know if he is Black or white, doesnt matter, if you understand THAT then you are halfway there

[KamaAina]

2. As a black activist once pointed out to me in NYC,

"Would you rather be beaten up by a black cop or a white cop?"