No charges for officer seen kicking seated protester in Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania police officer who was seen kicking a seated protester on May 30 will not face criminal charges, Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri announced Thursday, the Erie Times-News reported. 

Daneri also said that Hannah Silbaugh, the 21-year-old protester seen in the video of a protest in Erie, will not face charges.

Daneri reportedly said at a press conference that the actions seen in the video did not warrant prosecution and that the officer, who has not been publicly named by authorities, had the right to kick the seemingly peaceful protester under the circumstances. 

The incident was one of several cases of police aggression toward protesters that was caught on video and garnered attention on social media in the past month. 

@eriepolice we see you! We see this and YOU. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/1exBYxKTtG

— Issen (@issen) June 1, 2020

Erie Mayor Joe Schember announced June 15 that the officer would be suspended for three days without pay but would remain on desk duty until he completed sensitivity training.

According to the Times-News, the city determined that the officer followed police protocol “but that the manner in which it was applied by the officer was inappropriate.”