On Saturday, Philadelphia’s head of LGBTQ affairs and her husband were detained by police in a disturbing arrest that was caught on camera. Celena Morrison—who serves as the executive director of the City’s Office of LGBT Affairs—filmed her husband Darius McLean being arrested on the Vine Street Expressway.
Many on social media are asking if race is to blame because the couple is Black—but we know the answer to that. In the shocking clip, Morrison can be heard on video saying “that is my husband” over and over as McLean is forced on the ground. Morrison then tries to plead the pair’s case by saying, “I work for the mayor.”
McLean then stated, “It’s cause I’m Black” in the clip. The unidentified trooper retorted with “It’s not cause you’re Black.” The police report, which was obtained by CNN, stated that the couple was resisting arrest at the time of the traffic stop.
The stop occurred with the driver of the grey Infiniti sedan because of “multiple Vehicle Code violations,” according to the report. It also stated the person driving the vehicle became “verbally combative” when the trooper approached the vehicle. Neither Morrison or McLean were identified as the driver.
“The individual refused multiple lawful orders made by the trooper, and the trooper subsequently attempted to place the individual under arrest. The individual resisted arrest on multiple occasions,” according to the report.
Philadelphia mayor Cherelle L. Parker released a statement on X/Twitter about the incident. “Earlier today, a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper executed a car stop on the Vine Street Expressway in Philadelphia, reportedly for a Motor Vehicle Code violation. Celena Morrison, the City’s executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, was in the vehicle that was stopped,” Parker wrote.
“A video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident is very concerning to me, and I will have no further comment until the investigation has been completed.” A spokesperson with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has explained no charges have been filed as a result of the traffic stop. However, the investigation remains ongoing.