Outrage Over SEPTA Police Arrest Of Dad Holding Daughter

SEPTA officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding a viral video depicting the Thursday arrest of a man holding his child on the Market-Frankford El.

A witness recorded the arrest, which was reportedly due to fare evasion, and posted the video on Facebook. It has since been shared more than 36,000 times.

The video shows SEPTA police arresting the man as he clutches a young girl. An outraged crowd then forms around the altercation.

Many are criticizing SEPTA for using too much force during the arrest.

NBC10 reported the man was arrested because he didn’t pay his $2.25 fare. The original Facebook post by a bystander incorrectly stated he was arrested for evading the fare for his child. Children under 4 ride for free on SEPTA.

“I wish they would put hands on me while holding my kids!!! This police ‘entitlement’ mentality, which often leads to brutality, has got to stop!,” the Facebook user, Irize Refined Earth posted along with the nearly four-minute video.

Transit police chief Thomas Nestel said an internal affairs investigation is underway.

“I never want a child’s safety jeopardized ... While a successful campaign to reduce crime worked for us, but it didn’t work yesterday afternoon for a little child over a fare evasion,” Nestel said, according to NBC10.