News Summary
The ACLU of Rhode Island is calling for answers regarding the missing body-camera footage from a June 8 police shooting involving 28-year-old Sebastian Yidana. Though Officer Letourneau’s camera is supposed to automatically record, it reportedly failed during the incident. The police chief defended the officer’s actions while the ACLU emphasized the need for accountability. The ongoing investigation has raised concerns about police protocols and transparency in officer-involved shootings.
Pawtucket – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Rhode Island is pressing the Pawtucket police to clarify the absence of crucial body-camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on June 8. The incident involved 28-year-old Sebastian Yidana, who was reported to be holding a toy gun outside his apartment building when Officer Thomas Letourneau shot him. Yidana is currently hospitalized following the shooting. Two months have elapsed since the event, yet no explanation has been given regarding the missing body-camera video footage.
According to reports, Officer Letourneau’s body camera is designed to automatically record when a firearm is drawn from its holster. However, this mechanism reportedly failed to activate during the incident. The body camera system is equipped to capture 30 seconds of soundless video prior to activation, which could have provided context for the exchange between Yidana and the responding officers; unfortunately, all available footage only depicts the aftermath of the shooting.
The footage released from the officer’s body camera commences with video and audio of Letourneau handcuffing a bystander, overlooking critical moments that preceded the drawing of his weapon. Notably, Letourneau did not provide a written statement regarding the shooting, and no reports released by the city have been authored by officers who witnessed the incident.
The ACLU’s executive director characterized the absence of video footage as “inexplicable” and highlighted the vital function of accountability concerning police use of deadly force. Technical explanations for the missing recordings have yet to be furnished by the city, raising questions about existing police protocols.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves defended Officer Letourneau, asserting that he adhered to departmental guidelines and speculated that the body camera may have been in “off-duty mode” at the time of the shooting. City Council President Terrence E. Mercer recognized the ACLU’s concerns and plans to address the matter at an upcoming council meeting.
The shooting of Yidana is under investigation by the Rhode Island attorney general’s office, in conjunction with local police, as part of a broader inquiry into all officer-involved shootings across the state. This shooting marks the 11th incident involving the Pawtucket police since 2006, with seven classified as fatal. Except for one case, all shootings have been deemed justified.
On the day of the incident, a police dispatch log indicates a call was received at 10:24 a.m. concerning a man with a gun in an orange hoodie threatening individuals. Upon arrival at the scene, Officer Letourneau reportedly confronted Yidana, who was seen waving a broken plastic toy gun. Witnesses later noted that the toy gun only emitted noises, and no real weapons or ammunition were discovered in Yidana’s residence.
Following the shooting, Yidana faced charges of felony assault and disorderly conduct concerning the toy gun. His mother has expressed concerns over her son’s future, given his mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, alongside potential housing loss. Yidana is scheduled for arraignment in September, contingent on his recovery.
Mayor Donald Grebien had previously pledged a thorough and transparent investigation; however, further information regarding the missing footage remains limited. Chief Goncalves highlighted the difficulties faced by officers during high-stress situations and defended Letourneau’s actions given the circumstances surrounding the mental health crisis at the time.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Globe: ACLU Questions Pawtucket Police Shooting
- ABC6: Body Camera Footage Released After Shooting
- Providence Journal: Pawtucket Releases Body Camera Video After Shooting
- Valley Breeze: Conflicting Views on Officer Statements
- GoLocalProv: Security Camera Shows Pawtucket Police Shooting
- Wikipedia: Policing in the United States
