The city of Erie has wrapped up its internal investigation into a police pursuit, that ended with a suspect being struck by a police cruiser and arrested.
On Friday, Mayor Daria Devlin provided an update on the investigation at Erie City Hall.
The incident happened back on June 28, near East 23rd and Wallace Streets.
Erie News Now obtained the video, that shows a police cruiser pulling up onto a sidewalk, colliding with 41-year-old Keven Sparks as he attempted to flee police on an electronic bike.
The video shows him then run from police, before he is taken to the ground and forcibly arrested.
Sparks was wanted on multiple warrants and is now facing additional charges.
According to Mayor Devlin, the city has wrapped up with the fact-finding portion of the investigation.
Mayor Devlin says her administration must now determine if police protocol was followed and if any administrative action will be taken against the two officers involved.
“Incidents like this involve several questions,” said Mayor Devlin. “Was an action lawful? Was it consistent with department policy? Were the tactics and decisions leading up to it appropriate? Was the incident properly reported and reviewed? And does the incident reveal a need for changes in training, supervision, policy, or practice?”
According to Mayor Devlin, the city must now go through the personnel process of the investigation.
“We have a personnel process and we have to follow that personnel process,” said Mayor Devlin. “I’m unable to say to you today what the investigation found before as we noted, giving the employees involved an opportunity to hear that process, so I will be back when that process is complete.”
Erie News Now spoke with Crosby’s uncle John Crosby, to find out what he wants to see with the investigation moving forward.
“If that would have happened to me on my job, I would have been fired immediately,” said John Crosby. “I don’t understand, from all I know, this gentleman is working like nothing happened. I have no idea what’s going on with him and what I would love to see is him fired. Not only him. The one that hit him in the police car, that person, and the two that beat him while he was on the ground. In my opinion, there was no necessity for any of that to happen.”
In response to this incident, Mayor Devlin said the city will release a plain language guide to the police department’s use of force policy.
The mayor also wants to provide public information on how officers are trained on the use of force policy, and she’s committing to the development of clear protocol for public communication following significant police events.
Mayor Devlin said she will provide an update on the personnel portion of the investigation, once it is finished.