LANCASTER, Pa. — The Lancaster Bureau of Police announced that an officer who pushed a photographer to the ground during a confrontation outside a Donald Trump campaign event at the Lancaster County Convention Center on Sunday "followed the law including the Bureau's training, policies and procedures."
The police department's investigation of the incident determined the officer acted appropriately while trying to prevent the crowd from interfering as State Police detained an individual involved in an argument between supporters of the Republican presidential candidate and those who were there to protest his visit.
According to the investigation, State Police detained the individual at about 6 p.m. in Penn Square.
"A large crowd began moving quickly toward the arresting trooper and detainee as they were making their way back to a police cruiser," police said. "Lancaster City police officers and State troopers attempted to set up a line and pushed the crowd back to create space between the officer and the advancing group, which unfortunately resulted in an individual falling to the ground."
LNP | LancasterOnline reported that the woman pushed to the ground was a freelance photographer there to cover the event. The woman was not seriously injured, according to LNP.
Lancaster Police said their officers were trying to prevent the crowd from interfering with the arrest while ensuring the safety of both the trooper and the detainee.
"Officers were also working to safeguard the crowd as multiple vehicles attempted to navigate through the Penn Square intersection," the police department said. "This situation involved a large crowd, an active intersection, and an arrest being made. A scene like this can escalate quickly and officers may not always be able to immediately identify an individual's intent when the group is rapidly moving toward a restricted area.
"Every Lancaster City Police officer strives to maintain the safety and security of everyone during public gatherings. It's important for everyone, including media personnel, to remain aware of their surroundings during dynamic situations where safety conditions can change rapidly."
The police department included Lancaster Safety Coalition surveillance camera footage of the incident, which appears below.
