CMPD Chief Acknowledges Room for Improvement in Controversial Arrest

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings addressed a controversial arrest in which an officer was seen hitting a woman multiple times during an arrest. The incident began when officers stopped two individuals suspected of smoking marijuana. The woman, identified as Christina Pierre, was charged with assault on a government official, resist/delay/obstruct, and possession of marijuana. Chief Jennings acknowledged the public outrage and expressed a commitment to improving the department's practices. The officer involved has been reassigned, and an internal investigation is underway. The department has requested the release of body camera footage, and the State Bureau of Investigation has not been requested to look into the incident at this time.