East Lansing investigates alleged police brutality 

TUESDAY, Feb. 18 — The East Lansing Police Department has launched an internal investigation into alleged excessive force after a teenager said officers handcuffed him and tossed him head-first into the pavement outside of a local 7-Eleven. 

Uwimana Gasito, 19, told City Pulse that he was arrested outside of a 7-Eleven on Grove Street last weekend after he had confronted officers who were in the process of arresting his brother, Anthony Zarwea, for an alleged assault. And the violent escalation that followed was entirely unnecessary under the circumstances, he said. 

“I was recording the police,” Gasito posted to Facebook. “While recording, three officers arrested me. They threw me to the ground. While I was on the ground and in handcuffs, the officer was pushing my head into the ground, scraping my forehead back and forth.” 

“Police brutality is real,” Gasito added. “This is my story. This is my truth. This is my pain.” 

Gasito’s allegations were posted to Facebook last week and have been shared nearly 5,000 times. They’ve garnered attention from several thousand in Greater Lansing — including some who have joined him in protest. A demonstration is planned Feb. 23 at the police station. 

“We are calling on the East Lansing Police Department to be transparent and immediately release any footage and body-worn cameras,” organizers said. “Moreover, we are calling on the ELPD to bring in unbiased investigators to examine this case.” 

Gasito said he and Zarwea were celebrating a friend’s birthday before they took a late-night trip to 7-Eleven on Feb. 9. Once inside, a fight with another shopper turned violent after Zarwea had been accused of touching a woman from behind, Gasito explained. Punches were thrown. And that’s when police arrived to investigate. 

As three officers circled in and handcuffed Zarwea, Gasito said he confronted the officers. A video Gasito provided showed him cursing at officers as Zarwea appeared to resist being put in the back of a parked SUV. 

“This shit dumb as fuck, what do you mean? He didn’t do shit,” Gasito can be heard saying on the tape.  

Afterward, Gasito said officers turned to him and placed him under arrest. Once in handcuffs, however, he alleged one officer slammed his head into the concrete and rubbed it back and forth, creating large abrasions. Photos also show Gasito with open wounds and a black eye that he said came from the encounter with police.  

City Pulse is awaiting a reply to a Freedom of Information Act request for video footage and officer reports from the incident. East Lansing Police Chief Larry Sparkes said that tape will only be released to the public after it can be aired at an upcoming — and still unscheduled —  meeting of the East Lansing City Council.  

In the meantime, department officials have “proactively” initiated an internal probe into possible excessive force, Sparkes said. Allegations of this nature are taken very seriously and if proven, will result in “appropriate action,” he said. Department officials have declined to disclose whether any officers involved have been placed on leave. 

“East Lansing Police Department leadership expects professionalism from its sworn officers and the safety of the people within the community is our top priority,” Sparkes said in a press release issued in response to questions from City Pulse. “If it is discovered that something inappropriate occurred, appropriate action will be taken.” 

Court records also corroborate the timing of the incident, noting Gasito and Zarwea were both arrested at about 1 a.m. on Feb. 9. Zarwea has since been charged with assault and two counts of disorderly conduct. Gasito faces two counts of disorderly conduct including jostling in a crowd and obstructing an officer in the line of duty. 

Visit lansingcitypulse.com for continued coverage as more details about the incident become available.