Resident asks Mt. Pleasant council to review arrest investigation

MT. PLEASANT — Local resident and LGBTQ+ community member Bob Mueller Wednesday night called on the Mt. Pleasant City Council to review the results of the independent investigation into the arrest of a man that was caught on video.

He said the community and the council needs a further discussion on policing in the community, specifically police brutality.

Saying he was a victim of police brutality himself, Mueller said he wants to see community discussion on department policies regarding use of force and how personnel issues are dealt with.

“That incident had several factors to it, but I’ve been a victim of it,” Muller said. “I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community and for 50 years we have been marching based on police brutality and harassment.“

Mueller focused on trying to get community input for department policies to regain trust in the police, that Mueller said had been questioned.

“We have some concern with what is excessive force, and if we’re going to come together as a community to define what is excessive force,” Mueller said.

Muller added that it could actually improve the community’s trust if they take the event as a learning experience.

“Let’s not just dismiss that incident, how can we learn from it, how can we improve things, and how we can de-escalate quicker,” Mueller said. “As a society we’re trying to work our way through it, but it’s going to take some time. I don’t want to see it just dismissed I want us to learn from it.”

Muller was referring to the June 29 arrest of David Hudnall, which was questioned after a YouTube video of the arrest, shot through a car’s side-view mirror, was published.

The video, which showed only part of the arrest, shows Hudnall being struck in the head and sides multiple times by the officer.

The video was posted on the Mt. Pleasant Police Department’s Facebook page, leading to comments both supporting the police and others condemning the use of force.

Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Lyle Murray ordered an independent review of the arrest, which he said cleared the officer of wrongdoing.

The arresting officer’s name, the name of the person or organization doing the independent investigation not the officer’s body camera footage have been made public.

“The investigation has determined that the arresting officer complied with department policies in using appropriate force to restrain Mr. Hudnall from engaging in further unlawful acts and to protect himself or others from harm,” a news release stated.

Hudnall, who remains in the Henry County Jail, is charged with assault on a peace officer, carrying weapons and interference with official acts causing injury, all aggravated misdemeanors. Another charge of possession of methamphetamine is a Class D felony. He is due in court July 26.