Man Seen In Viral Arrest-Video Heads To Court

CHULA VISTA, CA – A young man who was seen being repeatedly struck by San Diego police officers in a widely shared social media video was slated to appear in court Friday on charges that include resisting arrest.

Trenelle D. Cannon, 20, is the subject of a video clip showing a group of officers punching him during a struggle on a South Bay roadside. The 12- second video has sparked controversy, with some saying the officers used excessive force in arresting Cannon Tuesday evening.

Police say the officers were attempting to arrest Cannon for outstanding felony warrants and allege Cannon tried to flee from officers and tackled one lawman to the ground prior to the events shown in the video.

San Diego police Chief David Nisleit defended the officers in a news conference this week, saying the blows were "distraction strikes" and necessary under the circumstances.

"We hear and understand the community's concerns about the video being shared on social media," Nisleit said. "However, this video does not provide context of what led up to the struggle with Mr. Cannon."

The scuffle erupted about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, after Cannon allegedly ran from officers who tried to take him into custody on outstanding robbery and gun-violation warrants in the 600 block of E Street in Chula Vista, according to police. The personnel found a loaded pistol abandoned where they had just seen the suspect, Nisleit said.

The suspect got into a car occupied by four other people and was driven off as officers gave chase and sought to pull over the vehicle. The driver yielded near an Interstate 5 on-ramp and one officer approached a passenger door next to where Cannon was seated.

At that point, the suspect allegedly burst out of the vehicle and tackled the patrolman, prompting several other officers to rush over and pile onto Cannon as one of his companions videotaped the unfolding fracas from inside the car.

"Believing Cannon possibly had another weapon, responding officers used a combination of physical force and distraction strikes to take him into custody while continuously giving him orders to surrender," Nisleit said at the SDPD headquarters in downtown San Diego.

"Cannon refused to cooperate and struggled to keep his hands in front of his body. At one point, he pushed up against an officer's gun belt."

Cannon's friends and family disputed the department's account in a separate news conference.
Cannon's girlfriend, Shakira Smith, said that once their car was stopped, Cannon opened the car door and was yanked out of the vehicle by officers in an unprovoked manner, at which point the officers "dogpiled him," and began punching and choking him.

Nisleit said the officers used no more heightened force on Cannon once he finally was in custody, and neither the suspect nor the involved officers suffered any serious injuries during the arrest.
SDPD internal affairs investigators will determine whether the personnel acted in accordance with the department's use-of-force policies, according to the chief.

"They also will evaluate all available evidence, which includes department video footage, witness statements and video captured by witnesses," Nisleit said, adding that the department will publicly release images from an officer's uniform-worn camera and from a patrol helicopter assisting on the call.

"Transparency is key here, folks, and that's why you're seeing this. This is why you're seeing us respond -- to tell you the whole facts of what occurred, (as compared with) just a 12-second video clip ... posted on social media.

"We are confident (that) once the public sees ... the full video (evidence) and learns what led up to this confrontation, the community will understand why our officers used the necessary force to take Mr. Cannon into custody."

In addition to his scheduled Friday court appearance, Cannon also made a downtown San Diego court appearance Thursday, in which pleaded not guilty to an unrelated robbery charge stemming from 2017. In that case, prosecutors allege he stole a necklace valued at $1,000 from someone. He then allegedly fled from pursuing officers, leaving the chain behind.

• ALSO SEE: 650-Year Sentence Ordered In North County Kidnap, Burglary Spree

--City News Service