SUMMERVILLE – City police released additional footage April 5 depicting the arrest of a 13-year-old selling palmetto roses outside a Walmart. The release came on the eve of a planned weekend protest.
The footage posted on the department's YouTube channel includes body camera video from arresting Officer Dante Ghi, dash camera footage from Officer Melvin Wallace, Walmart surveillance footage and the already released body camera video of Sgt. Katherine Kirkland.
A rally and march to the Summerville Police Department headquarters is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to demand the firing of Ghi, according to an Instagram post by Charleston Black Lives Matter. The protest will begin at Doty Park, 320 N. Laurel St.
"Ask yourself.. would a lemonade stand or Girl Scout troop be treated the same??," the post read.
On April 1, police responded to complaints about people loitering and selling palmetto roses outside the Walmart on North Main Street. The incident escalated to police forcefully arresting a 13-year-old who was selling the roses without a business license. Video released April 4 showed officers aggressively speaking to the teenager as he refused to comply and used profanity. As the 13-year-old continued to curse, Ghi grabbed him by the arm and a struggle followed as Ghi and Kirkland tried to handcuff the child, according to previously released footage.
Police previously said the juvenile punched Kirkland but the April 4 footage did not clearly show that part of the encounter. Bystander video of the encounter showed Ghi grab the boy's neck and force his head to the ground.
The State Law Enforcement Division said it was investigating the use of force in the incident.
