Fall River Police Release Body Cam Footage of McDonald’s Arrests

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — Fall River Police have released officer-worn body camera footage of the incident that occurred at a city McDonald’s Wednesday in which eight juveniles were arrested and charged with trespassing and other offenses.

The juveniles had allegedly been involved in a fight in the parking lot outside of the restaurant, located at 1620 President, prior to entering the McDonald’s just before 3 p.m. on October 18.

Police were called to the scene for the reported fighting, and were notified by the manager of the McDonald’s that the juveniles were not allowed to be in the restaurant if they had not purchased food.

The body camera footage can be seen here. WARNING: Explicit language and police action.

In the video, which has the faces of the juveniles blurred because they are underage and names bleeped out, an officer is heard informing the juveniles that if they have not already purchased food, they had to exit.

“From the manager, if you just walked in, time to leave or you’re going to be subject to trespassing and you will be arrested,” the officer wearing the body cam is heard saying. “I gave you the warning before you came in, they don’t want you in here.”

“If you don’t start leaving, my handcuffs are coming out, and the first one I grab is going,” he said.

The officer then interacts with one of the individuals, who argues with the officer but does exit the restaurant. He is then seen attempting to go back in, and the officer physically stops him with his hands.

“Their warnings were ignored and a juvenile who had already been spoken with exited the restaurant only to immediately return through a separate entrance,” police said in a release. “That individual was then placed under arrest for trespassing.”

Get our free mobile app

The individual is placed in handcuffs and physically removed from the building. On his way out, he complains about being grabbed by the neck. Officers take him outside and place him on the ground, and he can be heard repeatedly yelling, “Get the (expletive) off my neck, (n-word).”

At least one other individual is seen being placed in handcuffs.

Police said in the release they were then “met with confrontation.”

“Officers showed great restraint, with the initial responding officer issuing over twenty-three (23) warnings to the group prior to making any arrests. In total eight (8) arrests were made,” police said.

The arrests were as follows:
• Juvenile 1- Trespass, resisting arrest
• Juvenile 2- Trespass, Disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest
• Juvenile 3- Trespass, Resisting arrest (two counts)
• Juvenile 4- Trespass
• Juvenile 5- Trespass, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace
• Juvenile 6- Trespass, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace
• Juvenile 7- Trespass, resisting arrest
• Juvenile 8- Trespass, resisting arrest (2 counts), assault and battery on a police officer (two counts)

“While it is not our normal practice to release body worn camera footage of an incident, this footage is being released in the interest of transparency, accountability, and whereas the public interest has been taken into consideration,” police said.