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Orange, New Jersey – A police officer was suspended Friday after a video showed him win a fight with two teen girls. (Video below)
Twin sisters Nyasia and Kyasia Sorrells told News 12 New Jersey they were getting pizza across from Orange High School when they say that Officer Hanifah Davis tried to clear the corner, according to the Associated Press.
The actual reason for their detention has not been released at this time.
Kyasia Sorrells said that Officer Davis grabbed her and and put her arm behind her back.
Nyasia Sorrells said she saw the scuffle through the window and came outside to ask the officer what was going on.
At that point, Nyasia Sorrells said Officer Davis pushed her and knocked a plate of food out of her hand. She said Officer Davis then grabbed her by the hair.
In the video, Nyasia can can be seen throwing punches at Officer Davis’ head after he grabs her. Kyasia was blocked from camera view, but something prompted Officer Davis to take her to the ground as Nyasia swung on him.
The video appears to be edited and it cuts out when the officer turns to address Nyasia throwing punches at him.
Throughout the incident, both teens can be seen actively resisting in addition to assaulting police.
Later in the video, a school board member can be seen assaulting the officers as he tried to intervene; he was later cited.
The Orange Police Department and Mayor Dwayne Warren released a joint statement.
It said Officer Hanifah Davis was relieved of duty pending the outcome of an investigation started by the police department.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has been notified and the police were cooperating with the prosecutor’s office.
“This matter is being taken seriously by the Orange Police Department and the Warren Administration. All the facts will be shared with the public as soon as they are available,” the statement read.
More than 1,000 Orange High school students walked out of class and walked to police headquarters in a protest, NJ.com reported.
The students chanted “justice for the twins” and stayed at police headquarters for more than 45 minutes, NJ.com reporters.
The news site reported that the sisters Nyasia and Kyasia Sorrells showed up and urged the students to return to class.
The twins also complained that the night before their arrest, Officer Davis had stopped an Uber vehicle that they were passengers in. It’s not clear at this time how that’s relevant to their arrest.
They are both facing charges of resisting arrest.