$35k Settlement For Teen Slammed To Ground By New Haven Police

NEW HAVEN, CT — The City of New Haven decided to settle for $35,000 with a teen who was slammed into the ground by police at the 2015 St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Teandrea Cornelius, then 15, sustained a shoulder fracture and facial wounds, according to the New Haven Register. Police said she was armed with a knife.

As part of the settlement Cornelius must stay silent about the incident, according to the New Haven Independent. The settlement also notes that the city decided to settle to avoid costly litigation.

An internal affairs investigation later found that Officer Joshua Smereczynsky acted in accordance with his training when he performed a sweep move to take the handcuffed Cornelius to the ground. He saw a knife in her bag.

Part of the incident was caught on video and uploaded to YouTube.

Smereczynsky responded to Buffalo Wild Wings on a report of a fight and was told that Teandrea shot pepper spray. She didn't give Smereczynsky her name and refused to take her hand out of her pocket when ordered to, according to the New Haven Independent. She was then taken outside and handcuffed when Smereczynsky spotted the knife in her bag which is when he took her down.

Protesters verbally clashed after internal affairs cleared Smereczynsky.

Image via Shutterstock