Philadelphia’s LGBTQ director and her husband were the alleged victims of “excessive force’’ by a cop during a weekend car stop in the City of Brotherly Love — with the controversial encounter caught on video.
“That’s my husband! That’s my husband!” shouts Celena Morrison, the 51-year-old executive director of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Office of LGBT Affairs, at an unidentified trooper as he stands over her spouse, Darius McLean, 35, lying on the ground, according to the footage.
“I work for the mayor! I work for the mayor!” she yells.
McLean is cuffed by the trooper on a Philly highway Saturday. Latasha Morrison Sinclair
The trooper retorts, “Shut the f–k up’’ to Morrison, who has been touted as the first openly transgender person to head a city department.
At one point, McLean claims that he is being abused because he is black, prompting a flat denial from the cop.
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Both Morrison and McLean, chief operating officer of the William Way Community Center in Philly, were eventually arrested, but the local district attorney’s office declined to pursue charges, the Philadelphia Inquirer said.
The drama unfolded on Saturday shortly after 9 a.m. on Interstate 76 when Morrison, who was driving a gray Infiniti sedan followed by McLean at the wheel of a green Dodge, was pulled over for alleged “multiple vehicle code violations.”
McLean pulled up behind her, and “the trooper approached the Dodge, and the operator of the vehicle became verbally combative toward the trooper,” the department told the outlet.
The unidentified Pennsylvania state trooper cautions mayoral LGBTQ director Celena Morrison to stand back during the controversial encounter. Latasha Morrison Sinclair
“The individual refused multiple lawful orders made by the trooper and the trooper subsequently attempted to place the individual under arrest,” police said.
The video, shot by Morrison, begins with McLean down on the ground by the side of the highway with the trooper standing over him while he pleads, “Please, somebody help me!
“Please stop!” McLean is heard saying. “It’s because I’m black.”
The trooper shoots back, “It’s not ’cause you’re black.’’
Morrison retorts, “Yes, it is!”
Once McLean is handcuffed, the trooper turns toward Morrison, who is heard telling the cop, “I don’t know why this is happening.
“We didn’t do nothing wrong,’’ she says.
The trooper, having handcuffed Darius McLean, moves to arrest Celena Morrison in I-76 on Saturday. Latasha Morrison Sinclair
As the cop goes to arrest her, she can be heard saying, “He just punched me,’’ the outlet said.
Pennsylvania state police told the Inquirer that two individuals ages 35 and 51 were arrested during the incident and charged with resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct and other charges but did not identify them by name.
“The individual resisted arrest on multiple occasions,” police said of the Dodge driver.
They said the Infiniti operator “interfered with the trooper’s attempt to arrest’’ the Dodge driver so was arrested, too.
The Inquirer identified busted duo as Morrison and McLean — adding that the charges were ultimately not pursued by the district attorney’s office “pending additional review.’’
Morrison is believed to be the first openly transgender person to head a city department in Philly. Phila.gov
Parker addressed the incident on social media Saturday.
“A video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident is very concerning to me,” the mayor wrote on X, “and I will have not further comment until the investigation has been completed.”
City Councilmember Rue Landau described the footage on Facebook as “alarming,’’ saying it showed “a deeply disturbing interaction,” adding, “Videos like this one circulating showing excessive force from police can be traumatic.’’
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said the on-video arrest of her LGBT director is “very concerning.” Facebook
The cop did not have a body cam on, but his cruiser had a video recorder with audio, although it is not clear what it may have picked up.
Authorities are continuing an investigation into the incident, the DA’s office said.
“The individual resisted arrest on multiple occasions,” police said.
They said Morrison “interfered with the trooper’s attempt to arrest McLean and was also busted.
