Violent arrests leave a Syracuse community searching for answers

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Multiple Syracuse Police Officers face internal discipline for a pair of violent arrests on April 9 near South Avenue in Syracuse. A video, with over one million views on Facebook alone, shows a group of at least seven officers using force to detain two people.

The first, 22-year-old Antal Tatum, is thrown to the ground by one officer, before another places his knee on 21-year-old Jaumar Chandler’s neck momentarily, and strikes him with a punch to the back of the head.

“I just kept asking, why are you doing this? This is not right. The cops feel like they can abuse their power,” Chandler said.

It started with a traffic stop just after 3 pm., when Chandler was pulled over due to the tint on his car windows. Officers on the scene found that neither Chandler nor Tatum was a licensed driver and asked them to step out of the vehicle to have it towed.

According to Syracuse Police, the two failed to keep their hands visible and were initially detained without using force since they had not been searched for weapons.

During the initial detainment, police say the two made several derogatory comments towards the officers, including statements about “shooting the officers” and “spitting on them.” After being released by the officers, the video begins.

“I was getting out of the handcuffs. I was about to walk away. That’s when the officer, I guess, felt like I was disrespecting him,” Chandler said.

The video pans to the ground for a few seconds, and during that time, Chandler said he spit on the ground. Syracuse Police, however, said he spit on an officer instead. That’s when the two were detained for a second time, which is what the video captured.

Chandlers mother, Lataya Dixon, is seeking justice for her son.

“It’s going to keep happening. I’m glad they didn’t kill him, but they hurt him, mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Chandler and Tatum face several charges, including resisting arrest and driving without a license.  

Following the incident, Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile released a statement.

“Although the full investigation is still not completed, the body-worn cameras revealed evidence of policy and procedure violations that will be dealt with by way of discipline and retraining,” Cecile said.

In regard to what he called “controlled strikes,” Cecile added that punches like the ones seen in the video are not, by themselves, evidence of a violation.

“I realize the optics of strikes to the face and head are always bad, but if done with control and purpose, they are within policy and within DCJS standards.”

The internal investigation is still ongoing, and there is no word yet on the exact discipline the officers face.

The full Statement from Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile:

‘Syracuse Police conducted an investigation of a use of force in connection with arrests made on Wednesday, April 9th, around 3:09 p.m., at the intersection of South Avenue and Bellevue Avenue. Full details regarding the incident are provided below. Although the full investigation is still not completed, the Body Worn Cameras revealed evidence of policy and procedure violations that will be dealt with by way of discipline and retraining. 

On Wednesday, April 9th, around 3:09 p.m., Syracuse Police Officers stopped a vehicle at the intersection of South Avenue and Bellevue Avenue for vehicle and traffic violations. As they progressed with their investigation, Officers discovered that neither the driver nor the passenger in the vehicle had a valid drivers license. Due to this fact, Officers determined that the vehicle had to be towed. Per Department policy, Officers began taking an inventory.  

At this time, both the driver, identified as 21-year-old Jaumar Chandler, and the passenger, identified as 22-year-old Antal Tatum, were free to walk around and use their cell phones. However, since they had not been searched for weapons, they were asked to keep their distance from the Officers. Both individuals continued to violate this message, and the driver continued to reach into his pockets. Chandler was asked multiple times to keep his hands visible – again because he had not been searched. After several commands to keep his hands visible, Officers placed him in handcuffs without force and sat him in the back of a patrol vehicle while the tickets and other paperwork were being processed and completed.

While in the patrol car, Chandler made multiple comments that he was going to “shoot the officer and spit on the officer.” He also made derogatory comments about the Officer’s family members. After the paperwork was completed, Chandler was taken back out of the patrol car and his handcuffs were removed. It is at this time that he turned and spat in the direction of the Officer.

The Officer then proceeded to take Chandler to the ground and arrest him for harassment. Officers gave multiple verbal commands for Chandler to place his hands behind his back, which he refused to do. At this time, three controlled strikes were directed to his head and face in order to get him to lift his hands so Officers could take his wrists and place him back into handcuffs. This tactic worked, and Chandler was placed back into handcuffs. He was subsequently charged with harassment and resisting arrest. 

I want to mention this about the controlled strikes. I realize the optics of strikes to the face and head are always bad, but if done with control and purpose, they are within policy and within DCJS standards. The purpose of these strikes is to force the arrestee to raise his hands so officers can take his wrists and place him into custody. 

The second person, Antal Tatum, was arrested because he tried to intervene in the arrest of Chandler. He was charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration and resisting arrest. There were no visible injuries on either of the individuals, and both refused medical treatment when offered.’