Man holding baby in arms mistakenly beaten up by cops inside Applebees, real hit-and-run suspects hid in bathroom

In a case of mistaken identity, a customer at Applebee’s was forcefully brought down to the ground and was then assaulted by police officers from Kenosha, Wisconsin. The man was securely holding an infant at the time of the incident, while the actual culprits sought refuge in the restroom. This distressing event unfolded as the officers mistakenly targeted an innocent customer.

According to WISN 12 News, Kenosha law enforcement officials were on the lookout for the individuals responsible for a severe hit-and-run accident on July 20. Eyewitnesses of the incident claimed to have observed two African American males and a female with a child hastily flee towards a nearby Applebee’s.

“(Police) came in and asked (the family) to show them what car they came in, so they could verify if they were in the car accident or not,” Jennifer Harris, the Applebee’s manager that night said to WISN 12 News.

An unidentified staff member at the eatery tipped off the authorities about a couple with a young child who was dining at a table. The employees approached the trio for interrogation.

“The guy didn’t want to comply, he had his baby in his arms. (The officers) kept telling him he was not under arrest, but he was detained, and needed to answer this question,” Jennifer Harris noted. “He was trying to say he needed to change his son’s diaper. He tried to go the other way, but they tackled him into a wall and the baby hit its head on the wall.”

Speaking to the media, Harris disclosed that the law enforcement personnel forcefully took down the man to the ground and commenced forcefully separating the infant from his grasp while he lay on the floor.

In the video, it is evident that a single officer is vigorously striking the man while shouting at him to “place his hands behind his back.”

“It’s just sad. I just felt bad for the baby, that it had to go through that traumatic event,” Harris said to the media while apparently holding back her tears.

Despite the police later confirming that the couple was not involved in the hit-and-run incident, the man who was forcefully restrained in the eatery faced charges of disorderly behavior and impeding law enforcement.

The outlet reported that the lady accompanying him faced arrest under identical charges and was also charged with the unjust law of marijuana possession

Following the terrifying experience, law enforcement discovered the real culprits seeking refuge within the restroom, resulting in their apprehension, then prosecution.

“The second he said he wanted to enjoy his food and for them to go away, the officers should have left him alone,” a worker that night named Hal Klibowitz, said to WISN.

Harris, who has been employed at Applebee’s for approximately 12 years, was also terminated from her job by the restaurant. The establishment held her responsible for disseminating the video on the internet and with media organizations.

Attorney William Sulton is representing Harris in her case of wrongful termination. Sulton stated that they offered Applebee’s the chance to restore her job before taking legal measures.

The restaurant chain declined the offer.

On Wednesday, individuals advocating for the community rallied outside the Kenosha Safety Building, urging the department to exhibit transparency in their inquiry into the conduct of the officers.

“Why did the cops feel they needed that level of force with a baby in his arms,” Leaders of Kenosha’s executive director named Tanya McLean asked while she spoke at the protest. “What is it that makes you feel as if you need to be so overly aggressive, so confrontational like you’re ready for a fight?”

The department has announced that an internal “review” is currently being conducted to ascertain whether the officers’ utilization of force was “stronger than the minimum demanded by the state,” as mentioned in a statement provided to the media.

“We were aware of the incident immediately as a result of that process and started a review of it,” according to the statement.

“Currently it is under investigation. The investigation when complete will be comprehensive and dictate whether the officers acted appropriately or not and if any disciplinary action or additional training is deemed necessary.”