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Public commenter alleges assault by mayoral security during City Hall interview attempt
Summary
Ace Washington told the Police Commission he was restrained and thrown against a wall by individuals he said were part of the mayor's security detail while trying to interview the mayor and asked the chief for a full investigation; the transcript records the allegation during public comment and no on-the-record response or formal referral appears in the meeting minutes.
During the commission's public-comment period on Jan. 11, Ace Washington, who identified himself as a local media figure, told commissioners he was assaulted while attempting to interview the mayor and asked for a full investigation into the mayor's security detail.
"I, Ace Washington, the only black media here in the city ... I was assaulted," he said, describing being "put me up against the wall" and twice being grabbed and thrown down. Washington said he recorded the encounter and asked the chief to investigate the mayor's crew that guards him and to meet with African American community leaders to improve relations with law enforcement.
Chair and commissioners acknowledged the comment and reminded the public of caution when discussing pending cases; no mayoral representative or chief's office response to the allegation appears on the record in the commission meeting transcript.
The claim was made in public comment and was not recorded as a formal complaint or action item in the meeting report. Commissioners did not vote or direct staff to open an investigation on the record during this session.
Next steps: If the speaker wishes to pursue an official investigation, the usual options would be to file a complaint with the department or to ask the commission or OCC staff for referral; the transcript does not show such a formal filing during the meeting.
