Attorneys: Video contradicts Rock Hill police’s account of brothers’ arrest

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The attorneys of two brothers who were arrested last week during a struggle with Rock Hill police officers at a gas station said the department’s account of what happened was inaccurate and that video shows they should drop the charge against one of the brothers.

According to police, Ricky Price was pulled over at the Valero gas station on Willowbrook Avenue on June 23 after making an illegal turn. During the stop, Ricky Price’s brother, Travis Price, eventually walked up to the scene trying to pick up some of his brother’s things.

Police said Travis was told to stay back but instead, he bumped officers back with his body to get closer to his brother while yelling at them. Officers said they pushed Travis Price against a large tank and told him to put his hands behind his back but they started to struggle when he was taken to the ground.

Travis Price’s attorneys have a different story. They said their client was calm, followed the commands of officers and should not have been arrested.

Attorneys Justin Bamberg and Montrio Belton held a news conference Monday with Travis Price, who spoke publicly for the first time since his arrest and his brother’s arrest sparked protests and a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation.

“I just really want my dignity back,” Travis Price said. “I don’t like my name being scandalized and people putting out this and that on me, that’s not the case.”

Bamberg showed a video from the gas station, which he said makes their point. The video shows Travis Price walking up to the scene and standing near a police cruiser. One officer is seen handing him several items from his brother’s car as Ricky Price was being arrested.

Bamberg said the video shows Travis Price did nothing to interfere with officers and said the Rock Hill Police Department’s statement about the arrests is not an accurate depiction of what happened.

“I’ll put it bluntly, there’s a lot in there that’s just not true,” he said.

The video then shows officers asking Travis Price to step back before another officer confronts him, pushing him back into a large tank. Officers then take Price to the ground and arrest him.

“He’s the victim of an officer with a big attitude problem. He’s a victim of officers inadequately communicating with one another,” Belton said.

Belton accused Rock Hill police of a smear campaign against Price because they already have the video that was shown at the news conference.

“Law enforcement has this information,” he said. “They chose to write a statement that they knew was false.”

Travis Price’s lawyers told Channel 9 that Price has no criminal record.

Rock Hill police released a statement that said charges will remain during the investigation. They also said SLED asked the department not to release any videos until they’re done reviewing them and looking into the case. Rock Hill police said they honored that request.

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8 people arrested during 2nd night of protests in Rock Hill over arrest of 2 brothers

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