Family, lawyer of 13-year-old arrested at Summerville Walmart hold press conference

Police claim the juvenile began to swear at the officers and refused to identify or cooperate with them. The minor then punched a female officer in the face, according to police.

The video, which was been shared thousands of times online, has many community members upset.

“I was full of anger, full of rage,” Community activist Elvin Speights said. “It was excessive force. You can tell he was a kid – might be 120 pounds. Small kid. And this grown man is applying pressure on the back of his neck.”

Pendarvis said, “The minor is a bright and motivated young person who was simply trying to pursue a passion and learn valuable business skills. It is unacceptable that he was targeted and arrested for his entrepreneurial efforts.”

The Summerville Police Department released the following statement on the arrest.

“The Summerville Police Department is committed to maintaining public safety while upholding the highest standard of professionalism and respect for all individuals,” Police Chief Douglas Wright said. “We will continue to conduct a thorough review of this incident to ensure our officers followed proper protocols and identified any areas for improvement.

“We recognize the impact such incidents can have on community trust, and we remain dedicated to fostering open communication and strengthening our relationship with the citizens we serve.”