#WantedWednesday: Officer Brandon Smith-Saxon

The Beating of Dashawn McGrier:

On August 11, 2018, Officer Arthur Williams brutalized Dashawn McGrier. The second officer on the scene, Brandon Smith-Saxon, is seen in the now-viral video standing by while the assault takes place.

In the altercation, McGrier, who has a prior history with Williams, is seen demanding that Williams not touch him. At that point, Williams proceeded to repeatedly punch McGrier’s face and head for several seconds, ultimately knocking him to the ground and pinning his head against the concrete. McGrier is not seen fighting back.

McGrier was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries: a fractured jaw and multiple damaged ribs. Throughout the altercation, Smith-Saxon largely stands to the side, At one point, he briefly grabs McGrier’s arm, but then backs off.

Sandra Almond-Cooper, president of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP, told The Baltimore Sun she was glad the first officer had been charged but said the second officer “should’ve done something.”

“He should’ve stopped him before it was so bad,” said Almond-Cooper, who has called for the second officer to be fired and criminally charged.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Baltimore police officer who was shown on video beating man is charged with assault and turns himself in”

Source: New York Times, “Baltimore Officer Who Punched Man Repeatedly Is Charged With Assault”

Source: Vox, “A Baltimore police officer brutally beats a black man. It’s creating new problems for the department.”