Lansing Police Department launches investigation after arrest at CATA Transportation Center

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Lansing police officials say they’re aware of a video circulating on social media showing a recent arrest made at the CATA Transportation Center.

In a press release Monday, the department said officers were called to the CATA Transportation Center “regarding an individual who had previously been banned from the property and was trespassing.

After speaking with the person, officers “warned the individual that they would be arrested if they did not leave,” officials said.

The person was ultimately taken into custody for trespassing, according to the department.

Authorities have not said exactly when the incident took place.

In the video posted to Facebook, officers are heard telling the person “you better start walking now.” As they begin to take the person into custody, a struggle ensues. One officer is seen kneeing the person as they wrestle them to the ground.

While trying to put them into handcuffs, one officer is seen slamming the person’s head into the ground.

“I didn’t do nothing and I didn’t trespass. I haven’t done anything,” the person said. “I’m here because it’s cold outside. I have nowhere to go. Nothing. I have nothing. I haven’t done anything wrong and this is how you treat me?”

One person in the background is heard saying, “you should have left when I told you.”

No information regarding the events prior to the start of the video has been released, as of 5 p.m. Monday.

The department says it has opened a complaint review and the officer involved has been removed from patrol and reassigned to administrative duty during the complaint investigation.

“The Lansing Police Department takes all complaints seriously and is committed to addressing concerns regarding police response,” the release said.

CATA released a statement Monday evening, saying:

“The Lansing Police Department (LPD) responded Sunday night to a trespassing complaint at CATA’s downtown transportation center (CTC) in Lansing regarding an unhoused individual who is banned indefinitely from the CTC based on a history of violence and threats with weapons towards other riders.

Consistent with our mission and values, CATA is deeply committed to supporting the needs of our community’s unhoused population at all times, particularly during extreme weather, while ensuring the safety of our riders and staff. We fully support the use of the CTC as a warming center during business hours when a Code Blue extreme weather alert has been declared by the city. And we believe every effort should be made to assist individuals in need with transportation to an appropriate shelter.

Individuals who engage in disruptive, threatening or illegal behavior are subject to a ban from our facilities and services. CATA believes the rights and safety of all who use our services are paramount. Ensuring the safety of all riders, including area students, as well as CATA staff and others who frequent the CTC, is a responsibility CATA takes very seriously.

The Lansing Police Department is currently reviewing this incident and CATA is fully cooperating while undertaking its own review of internal policies and procedures."

CATA also says security video is being reviewed and will be made available “as soon as possible.”

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