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GRPD Releases body, dash cam footage of May 20th arrest of Kavosaye Phillips

GRPD Body Cam Footage 5.20.2020.JPG
Posted at 4:50 PM, May 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-30 16:50:34-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Police have released the body camera footage from the arrest of 28 year-old Kavosaye Phillips on May 20.

Phillips' attorney accused the Grand Rapids Police Department of excessive use of force on Phillips during his arrests, leaving him with face injuries. Following those claims, the Grand Rapids Police Department launched an investigation into the arrest and found no excessive force was used.

However, Phillips' mugshot received a lot of attention and concern from the community which is why police chief Eric Payne ultimately decided to release the footage.

In the video released Saturday, police officers are shown approaching the vehicle which was reported to be stopped in the road with the driver passed out. Both the driver and the passenger (Kavosaye Phillips) were passed out and not alert.

Eventually police got their attention and began to search both men. During their search, police noticed a gun on Phillips which escalated the situation.

Police say Phillips was not complying to officers orders which lead them to use force during his arrest. The driver, however, was compliant with officers orders and was arrested without incident.

Police tell FOX 17 both men in the car were felons and had loaded handguns, marijuana, and cocaine in their possession.

GRPD has released the full video on their Facebook page.