Carolina Public Press–A physical altercation between three UNC-Greensboro Police officers and a man and woman during a Monday traffic stop is drawing criticism from UNCG students and civil rights groups. Video footage of the incident shows officers grabbing and cursing at a man during the arrest and kneeling on top of the woman.
A report of the incident obtained by Carolina Public Press names the man as Quentin Thomas, 24, of Greensboro, and the woman as Alisia Rea, 22, of Charlotte.
Thomas and Rea are both Black. The officers who initially approached Thomas for his vehicle being stopped in a turn lane are Latino, and a third officer who arrived during Thomas’ arrest is white. The UNCG chapter of the NAACP released a statement on the altercation criticizing UNCG Police who they say “brutalized two Black Greensboro residents.”
UNCG released a statement acknowledging at least one of the individuals arrested is a student at the university. “The University is aware of a campus incident involving a student and law enforcement that has raised concerns in our community,” UNCG said in a statement posted on social media Thursday.
“While we cannot comment on ongoing legal matters, our priority is the safety and well-being of our students. Support is available through the Division of Student Affairs for those with questions or concerns.”
In the video, a female officer who is listed in the incident report as Officer Rebecca Galicia, a police trainee, says Thomas was initially pulled over for being stopped in a turn lane, though records show he was ultimately arrested for a revoked driver’s license and “resist, delay or obstruction” in addition to stopping on a highway.
Rea, who filmed several minutes of the altercation and arrests, was arrested for assault on a public official and issued a trespass warning according to the incident report, despite officers saying in the video she was being arrested for interfering with their investigation.
How UNCG incident happened
The start of the video posted to social media shows a male officer, who can be identified by his nametag as UNCG Police Officer Cristian Ortiz but is not named in the incident report, attempting to grab Thomas out of the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Thomas told Ortiz to let go of him so he could step out of the car.
Ortiz let go of Thomas, and Thomas repeatedly asked the officers to back up from the driver’s side so he could step out. Ortiz shouted at Ortiz, telling him to, “Get out of the f—ing car right now, man!”
“Can you back up?” Thomas said in the video. “I do not feel safe getting out of the car with you guys hovering over me right now.”
A third officer, whose nametag is blurry in the video and is not listed in the incident report but has been identified as UNCG Police Sgt. Braxton Hiatt in social media posts, then arrived on the scene and said Thomas was under arrest. Hiatt is seen removing his stun-gun device and pointing it at Thomas through the open car door, moments after arriving.
Ortiz pulled Thomas out of the driver’s seat and began restraining him. As Thomas had his hands behind his back against the side of the vehicle, Hiatt told Thomas he was about to be “tased.” Thomas expressed he did not know what he was doing to be tased for or why he was being arrested.
The video continues to show Thomas being put in the police car. Rea, the woman filming the interaction, asked officers whether they read Thomas his rights. Hiatt responded, “You watch too much TV. Mind your business.”
“Miranda rights apply only before officers begin a custodial interrogation,” a UNCG spokesperson later told CPP. “Without both ‘custody’ and ‘interrogation’ Miranda warnings are not applicable. Custody means a situation where a reasonable person would not feel free to leave. Interrogation refers to direct questioning.”
Ortiz then told Rea he needed her name because she was interfering with the officers’ investigation. Rea did not give her name and asked for Ortiz’ badge number. She moved off the street onto the sidewalk, where Ortiz followed her to continue asking for her name.
After Rea asked for Ortiz’s badge number multiple times, he responded officers do not have them. The UNCG spokesperson confirmed to CPP that UNCG Police do not have badge numbers. After Rea not providing her name, Ortiz said, “You’re going to jail, too.” As Rea began walking away, officers followed her and told her to stop. All three officers can be seen attempting to restrain her.
Rea fell to the ground after struggling to break their grasp and is seen on her stomach on the sidewalk as officers proceeded with the arrest. Additional footage filmed by a bystander shows all three officers on top of Rea. She asked the officers several times to remove their hands from her neck.
Ortiz, Galicia, Hiatt and Rea did not respond to requests for comment before publication. Thomas could not be reached at this time.
Criticisms circulate
The NAACP’s UNCG chapter released a statement on social media regarding the arrests saying Thomas and Rea are enduring severe emotional distress and psychological trauma from the events.
“UNCG PD are supposed to protect and serve students, now, to the Black community on campus they are their biggest danger,” the statement read.
“The UNCG NAACP is working with the victims of this harrowing incident to ensure all the correct steps are being taken. The UNCG NAACP stand firmly against police brutality and any actions that comprise the safety and dignity of students on or near our campus.”
A post on a subreddit dedicated to Greensboro regarding UNCG’s statement sparked conversation, with some showing support for Thomas and Rea and others criticizing Thomas for not getting out of the car sooner.
“In what world are we supposed to feel that amount of force for a tense but simple interaction is warranted?” one post read.
“UNCG students are infuriated. I feel for that girl and hope she gets a lawyer (because) there was no reason for the officers to react like that.”
On UNCG’s official Instagram, many criticized the university for turning off the ability to comment on the post. One alum commented on a separate post that educators are taught to deescalate tense situations rather than escalate, and law enforcement are often taught the same.
“I didn’t see one example of that in the video,” they wrote. “I saw profane-laced yelling, and three officers laying on a young woman who can’t be over 120 pounds. Tonight, I’m ashamed to be a Spartan.”
The UNCG spokesperson responded to further questions from CPP that the university cannot comment on specifics, such as whether the officers are or will be suspended from their positions, because the matter involves ongoing legal proceedings, however the university is reviewing the situation.
“The Division of Student Affairs is in communication with the student involved in the incident. Student Affairs is available to provide counseling, guidance and resources to any student as needed,” the spokesperson said.
“As is our standard practice with any arrest, the University is reviewing the incident, including available reports and video, to ensure clarity and transparency and to assess any violations of policies, procedures or state law.”
The UNCG Police website says its officers have the full range of authorities granted to municipal law enforcement, and they receive the same level of training as municipal and county law enforcement officers. An agreement with the City of Greensboro allows UNCG to have jurisdiction throughout the city in addition to campus.
