Students walk out of class following 'aggressive' arrest of Fairfield teen

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (KGO) -- A video showing a Fairfield High School student's arrest during a campus fight has sparked protests, student walkouts and renewed calls for accountability, as community members gathered ahead of a Tuesday night City Council meeting.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, students have staged walkouts and demonstrations at school, and the family of the teen at the center of the video has spoken out. Community leaders say the incident reflects broader concerns about policing practices in the city.

At the beginning of Tuesday's council meeting, City Manager David Gassaway addressed the arrest and the community response.

"I want to recognize that there was the incident at Fairfield high last week and certainly rightfully so lot of emotions around policing safety and students on our campuses," Gassaway said. "Couple of things I just want to let everybody know that we're working on. We've heard the calls in the community for accountability in the situation."

Gassaway said the city is hiring an independent outside investigator to produce a report for an independent citizen audit committee's review.

RELATED: Fairfield officer reassigned amid excessive force claims, outrage grows as new video surfaces

The rally prior unfolded Tuesday evening outside the meeting, drawing supporters who say they want transparency and change.

"I'm upset. Angry that should have never happened. It was aggressive," said Rhamesha Stevenson, the teen's mother.

The student, identified as Maurice Williams, was arrested during what police described as an on-campus fight last week. Fairfield's police chief said officers used what were described as "distraction strikes" to get Williams to put his hands behind his back so he could be handcuffed after what police called "aggressive behaviors."

Stevenson said her son is struggling in the aftermath of the incident.

"He's not doing well, he's just not doing well trying to process- I don't even want to let him out the house, don't want him to come to Fairfield- want him to stay put, that's not something a mother should have to feel without a child especially with a police force that's supposed to protect us," she said.

RELATED: Backlash after video shows Fairfield officer strike student amid high school fight, 2 teens arrested

ABC7 Eyewitness News has also learned the same officer appears in a separate video from last year involving another teenager, raising further concerns among the family.

"That I don't understand why she was even still on the force after that video- I feel like they tried to cover it up and I'm just, for my son everything's gonna get exposed, everything, she wont be able to do this again- I wont stop 'til her badge is gone," Stevenson said.

The officer involved has since been reassigned. Fairfield police had already said an outside organization will conduct an independent investigation into the incident.

Community leaders, however, say that step may not go far enough.

"Instead of trying to cover themselves, they should be trying to protect those who were harmed and really find out how the community feels about watching these videos of someone that took a swore an oath to protect them, to serve who is not just a police officer, but a peace officer and all these actions didn't look like they were peaceful," said Berry Accius, a community activist and CEO of Voice of the Youth.

Pastor William Harris of Praise Covenant Church said the repeated images of police encounters are affecting how young people view law enforcement.

"I train our kids in our community to respect the police. Honor the police. But it's hard for us to do our job if we teach them that. And they say, well, pastor, but every time we see an interaction, it's violent," Harris said.

Harris said the rally is intended to give young people a voice and begin healing within the community.

"It's very, very difficult. And I think that coming together tonight, having the rally, it's not so much about the officer as it is giving the young people a chance to have a voice. Giving the young people a chance to actually heal and maybe hear something that will cause them to come together rather than tear them apart," he said.

Fairfield police did not provide additional comment Tuesday evening. Harris said he has written letters to both the police chief and mayor ahead of the council meeting.