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From Staff Reports
The City of Asheville on Dec. 20 filed a petition asking the Asheville Police Department to release officer body camera footage of a Grove Arcade worker’s forceful arrest.
The city’s December petition will be heard in court on Jan. 13, “the earliest date available,” City Attorney Brad Branham said in an email..
Meanwhile, in a Dec. 24 story on the filing, the Asheville Citizen Times noted that the action came “after recent reporting from the Citizen Times.”
The petition asks city police to release “to the general public” three recordings from cameras worn by officers involved in arresting Louis Searles, a longtime Grove Arcade janitor who was toppled to the ground and threatened with a Taser while at work Dec. 9.
In an email to Asheville City Council members, Branham, the city attotrney, stated.
“The recent use of force incident at the Grove Arcade raises an issue of significant public concern, and we believe it is imperative that the City provide the public with as much information as possible.
“The body cam footage will provide a full account of what led up to the incident, which cannot be seen on recently shared cell phone video.”
Meanwhile, the city notified APD Chief Mike Lamb of the filing, who “fully supports the release of these recordings,” the court file said, according to a story in the ACT.
The ACT added, “Under North Carolina law, police recordings can only be publicly released by a court order, hence the petition in Buncombe County Superior Court. APD has released video of controversial arrests in the recent past, including the May 2023 forceful arrest of Devon Whitmire after a petition from the city and the arrests of protesters and two reporters in Ashton Park after a request from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina.”
Sharon Searles, Louis’ wife, told the ACT on Dec. 22 the following:
“It (the footage) needs to be released. The community needs to know all about it and how Louis was treated — and it was uncalled for.”
She also told the ACT that the experience has been “devastating” for both her and her husband, who hasn’t been able to sleep from anxiety since his encounter with the officers.
Regarding Louis Searles encounter with the APD, the newspaper noted from the petition:
“A longtime Grove Arcade janitor, Louis Searles, was detained by force Dec. 9, with actions by Asheville police officers he and bystanders say were without cause.
“Though an individual’s name is also listed on APD’s incident report for the stolen vehicle, the petition confirms Prestige Subaru of Asheville reported the car — a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek — was missing from its lot on Dec. 9.
“APD Sergeant Ian Cooper was the first to arrive after GPS tracking showed the car was on Page Avenue outside the Grove Arcade downtown. Shortly after Officer Jose Rico-Garcia joined Cooper, Searles, 63, approached the officers with keys in hand, asked why they were interested in the car, and said it belonged to ‘my lady,’ according to the petition.”
In a Dec. 22 call with the ACT, the newspaper noted that Searles “denied ever referring to the woman in this way, but he had asked if he could help carry her items prior to police arriving at the downtown shopping center.”
Meanwhile, the petition stated: “Sergeant Cooper asked if they could speak with her, and Searles responded that she was working inside... Cooper told Searles the car ‘had been reported for unauthorized use.’ Searles then ‘immediately walked away’ toward the shopping mall’s entrance.”
“Is that the keys?” Cooper reportedly asked, but Searles did not respond, according to the court filing.
The janitor later told the Citizen Times he had clicked his key fob in front of the officers to lock his own car as he walked away. With music playing in his earbuds, he didn’t hear the sergeant’s question as he approached the mall’s doors.” |
