Breanna Beasley spoke fondly of the fun times she had with her long-time friend London Colvin. “She can eat. We used to have eating contests so we could see who could eat more,” Beasley said.
“She loves to dance. Any kind of you music you put on, and she’s literally out there [dancing],” added Beasley.
Colvin, of Woodbridge, was captain of the step team at Woodbridge Senior High School her senior year, and played a leadership role in the school’s JROTC.
Beasley was surprised to hear of Colvin’s arrest, stating that she was never one to act out or get into trouble.
“She wasn’t a big trouble maker in school. I really followed behind her steps. I stayed out of trouble thanks to her,” Beasley said.
London Colvin is a 21-year old Army Reservist and Norfolk State University student, who was attacked by a Norfolk police dog on Sunday. Colvin has been charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to Norfolk Police.
Norfolk Police Chief confirmed “unreasonable force” used
Yesterday Norfolk Police Chief Michael Goldsmith posted a media release, claiming that an investigation into the incident with Colvin’s arrest showed that “unreasonable” force had been used.
Goldsmith released the following statement:
“Since January 25th, my department has been investigating the arrest of London Colvin. While we continue to wrap up the final few interviews with witnesses and officers, I feel I have enough information to determine the use of force in Ms. Colvin’s arrest was unreasonable.
I will address my officers’ actions through our disciplinary process.
My review of the policies governing the use of police canines continue. This review will ensure that Norfolk canines are used appropriately in all circumstances. As Chief, I am responsible for the policies and procedures that govern my officers’ actions. While I expect my officers to make the best judgment in all circumstances, if the policy doesn’t support the outcomes I expect, I have failed them. I am committed to having the best trained department and I will make this right.
I will make the revised policy available once I have completed my review.”
The canine officer involved in the altercation was placed on administrative duty while the incident is being investigated. His name was not released and no further details were given. Colvin’s charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest still stand.
Friends and family of Colvin appreciated Goldsmith’s statement.
“It really took a weight off my chest. I know that without that being said, that it was going to be a lot of extra work done [to tell] the public, and get them to notice that this wasn’t right,” said Carman Chatman, a Norfolk State University (NSU) student and friend of Colvin who witnessed the attack on Sunday.
“I spoke with some of her friends [at NSU] and everybody is really happy – this is a great first step in getting justice. It was nice to hear what [Goldsmith] said,” said Whitney Dunn, Colvin’s cousin.
However, Dunn is still seeking answers.
“Those [charges] are still being filed, and personally…to me, it’s very important that we get these charges dropped, and that that’s part of the justice. I would like to know what happens to the police officers as well, because that was not stated during the press conference [held by the Norfolk Police Department]. This shouldn’t happen in 2015,” Dunn stated.
NAACP steps in to handle case
While the Norfolk Police Department continues their own internal investigation, representatives from the Norfolk branch of the NAACP have stepped in.
According to Rick James, Chairman of the Legal Redress team for Norfolk’s NAACP, their investigation into the incident also confirmed that unnecessary force had been used against Colvin.
“…the information that we’ve gotten from our investigation agreed with the chief – that the actions of the canine officer was a violation of her 4th Amendment right,” James said.
Norfolk’s NAACP office hopes to have the incident resolved within the next couple of days, said James.
James said that there needs to be more transparency and training within the police department, in order to make sure that things do like this do not happen in the future.
“We’re going to make sure that all of the officers clearly understand what they can and cannot do with certain people. And with the system, as a whole, that when they’re confronted with certain situations, to make sure that they don’t overreact. We don’t expect officers to be perfect in their daily activities– but their actions do need to be reasonable,” James said.
The NAACP has not said if they will handle her legal defense if the pending charges do proceed.
Protests
Several friends of Colvin stood outside of Woodbridge Senior High School this morning, holding signs and wearing t-shirts displaying the trending “#justiceforlondon” hashtag as an act of support.
In addition to this protest, another will be held at NSU this evening at the Douglas Wilder building at 8p.m., following a speaker series that will include the attorneys from the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown cases, according to commenters on Instagram.
Chatman stated that the protest should remain peaceful, and that the chief’s words have gone a long way to help their cause in seeking justice.
“Me and my friends here at school are trying to promote and we’re not trying to necessarily protest now, but get the word out there that justice is needed, and we have a bit of that satisfaction now. We’re so happy that what we wanted most – is for her and the people to know that she didn’t deserve [the attack] and that it was excessive,” Chatman said.
Tenisha Williams, another NSU student and friend of Colvin who helped to organize the protest also reiterated that it is going to remain a peaceful protest.
Next steps for Colvin family
While the Colvin family is still dealing with the pending charges, their primary focus is seeing that Colvin gets the medical care that she needs for the extensive wounds that she received in the police dog attack, including plastic surgery to close an open wound on her leg.
“London still needs her wounds cared for, and that’s part of the mission right now. We’re trying to make sure that all of that can get taken care of,” Dunn stated.
Dunn said she was grateful for the multitude of people that spoke out in support of Colvin on social media. “I think that’s how we feel – ‘Thank you everyone for sharing.’ For sharing and reposting [the story] so that it could get awareness, so that this could happen,” Dunn commented.
In order to help alleviate some of the financial burden that has been placed on the family to obtain medical care, Dunn has set up a fundraising page where people can donate to Colvin.
Potomac Local has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the City of Norfolk, requesting court documents in connection to this case.
