A Black Lives Matter group is joining the family of a 5-year-old crash victim in calling for action against a Florida police officer.
Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc. and the Poor & Minority Justice Association are standing with the family of Jalina Anglin and demanding that an Auburndale police sergeant be fired and charged in the death of the young girl, according to a report.
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“I can’t stop thinking about my baby, my grandchild is no longer here,” LaTrice McKinnis, the victim’s grandmother, said. “We want justice. Jalina was a bright, intelligent young girl that was taken from us.”
Anglin died Nov. 25 as the sergeant was responding to a call for assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the report noted.
While headed toward the scene in a marked truck with its sirens and lights activated, he collided with a blue 2016 Kia sedan carrying Anglin and driven by the girl’s mother, according to the report.
“Multiple witness statements indicated that when the light changed to green for northbound lanes, traffic held for the approaching police vehicle,” a statement from the sheriff’s office read. “The driver of the Kia also informed PCSO detectives that she heard the sirens, but began to proceed into the intersection because the vehicle next to her moved forward. The Kia crossed into the path of the police vehicle, and the two vehicles collided.”
The 5-year-old Anglin was in the back of the sedan and did not survive.
Groups including Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc. are demanding that the sergeant be charged with vehicular manslaughter.
“The law does not qualify any office to speed at irritate speeds and not use any discretion when approaching major intersections,” BLM Restoration Inc. Vice President Carl Soto said.
“This was 100% avoidable. [Jalina’s mother’s] light was green, [the sergeant’s] light was red. So common sense would tell you to reduce speed and ensure no vehicles are coming in the opposite direction.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has challenged the accusations.
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“Here we go again with the PMJA making false accusations and inflammatory statements. This fatal crash investigation by our Traffic Homicide Unit, which is the very best in the business, is still ongoing,” Judd said in a statement.
“Once the investigation is complete, the full report will be available for inspection under Florida’s public records laws. As we do with all traffic crashes, we release very preliminary information to the media and the public as quickly as possible. To suggest any nefarious conduct by law enforcement is outrageous, and once again diminishes the PMJA’s credibility.”
