A tense Fairfield City Council meeting Tuesday night was repeatedly paused as hundreds of residents demanded action following the arrest of two students at Fairfield High School, including one case that has sparked allegations of excessive force by a police officer.Community outrage has grown since video surfaced last week showing Fairfield High School student Maurice Williams being arrested on campus and struck several times by an officer. The footage prompted calls for an investigation and drew a large, emotional crowd to City Hall.“Last I checked it was supposed to be peace officers,” one speaker said during public comment. “But they lead with violence. With children. That’s beyond words to me.”At times, the meeting turned chaotic, with angry residents shouting at city leaders and calling for accountability.“How dare you? You’re a disgrace! She should be fired! Do something!” one attendee yelled.Others echoed demands for immediate action against the officer involved.“You have a responsibility to act,” one speaker told city leaders. “You have a responsibility to hold this monster accountable.”The unrest intensified after Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy responded to disruptions by saying, “This is why we don’t do it in public because we have some haters,” a remark that drew even more criticism from advocates and attendees.“We show up and we show up for a child,” said Angela Dominguez, an advocate for Williams. “I want to emphasize this is a child who was beat ruthlessly. And she wants to say we’re haters because she doesn’t like that her feet are being held to the fire.”Fairfield police have released body camera footage of the arrest. Officers say Williams struck one officer and resisted law enforcement before he was taken into custody. Even so, the video has fueled public anger and renewed scrutiny of police conduct involving minors.“That kid is going to have to live with that trauma for the rest of their lives,” one speaker said.The Fairfield Police Department says an independent investigation is underway. The officer involved has been administratively reassigned within the department, though officials have not said to which assignment.For many in the community, that move does not go far enough.“She needs her badge removed. Not transferred to another police station,” Dominguez said. “She needs to be gone. She does not deserve to wear that badge.”It remains unclear which department the officer has been reassigned to. Authorities are also working to confirm another incident under investigation involving the same suspected officer.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A tense Fairfield City Council meeting Tuesday night was repeatedly paused as hundreds of residents demanded action following the arrest of two students at Fairfield High School, including one case that has sparked allegations of excessive force by a police officer.
Community outrage has grown since video surfaced last week showing Fairfield High School student Maurice Williams being arrested on campus and struck several times by an officer. The footage prompted calls for an investigation and drew a large, emotional crowd to City Hall.
“Last I checked it was supposed to be peace officers,” one speaker said during public comment. “But they lead with violence. With children. That’s beyond words to me.”
At times, the meeting turned chaotic, with angry residents shouting at city leaders and calling for accountability.
“How dare you? You’re a disgrace! She should be fired! Do something!” one attendee yelled.
Others echoed demands for immediate action against the officer involved.
“You have a responsibility to act,” one speaker told city leaders. “You have a responsibility to hold this monster accountable.”
The unrest intensified after Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy responded to disruptions by saying, “This is why we don’t do it in public because we have some haters,” a remark that drew even more criticism from advocates and attendees.
“We show up and we show up for a child,” said Angela Dominguez, an advocate for Williams. “I want to emphasize this is a child who was beat ruthlessly. And she wants to say we’re haters because she doesn’t like that her feet are being held to the fire.”
Fairfield police have released body camera footage of the arrest. Officers say Williams struck one officer and resisted law enforcement before he was taken into custody. Even so, the video has fueled public anger and renewed scrutiny of police conduct involving minors.
“That kid is going to have to live with that trauma for the rest of their lives,” one speaker said.
The Fairfield Police Department says an independent investigation is underway. The officer involved has been administratively reassigned within the department, though officials have not said to which assignment.
For many in the community, that move does not go far enough.
“She needs her badge removed. Not transferred to another police station,” Dominguez said. “She needs to be gone. She does not deserve to wear that badge.”
It remains unclear which department the officer has been reassigned to. Authorities are also working to confirm another incident under investigation involving the same suspected officer.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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