Cop Removed From Beat After Puerto Rico Shirt Incident

In video, he appears not to respond to woman asking for his help
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 10, 2018 4:43 PM CDT

A park police officer in Chicago has been assigned to desk duty while officials investigate his response to a woman who said she was being harassed for wearing a shirt with the Puerto Rican flag, the AP reports. Mia Irizarry complained that a man at Caldwell Woods, where she was celebrating her 24th birthday, was questioning her citizenship and telling her she shouldn't be wearing the shirt. Puerto Rico is a US commonwealth. Video of the June 14 incident shows the officer didn't respond. More officers arrived and arrested the man, who was described as drunk. He's been charged with assault and disorderly conduct, CNN reports.

Caldwell Woods is part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The agency tweeted Monday that an investigation of the officer is ongoing. It says all visitors should feel safe. Ricardo Rossello, the governor of Puerto Rico, wants the officer fired.

(More Puerto Rico stories.)

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