Battle Creek Police Use of Force Under Scrutiny After Teen Detainment

Newly reviewed body camera footage is raising serious questions about how Battle Creek Police officers interact with teens in the community. The footage stems from a June 4 encounter involving 16-year-old Jeremiah Spearman, whose family says the incident left him fearful just 10 days before a second interaction with police on June 14.

That second encounter later went viral online, prompting growing community concern over how officers approached the teen.

Jeremiah's mother, Martricia Spearman, says what happened on June 4 helps explain why her son was unwilling to stop for officers days later. "I feel like they need to have different policies for different age groups. Adults and kids should not be treated the same," she said.

Per body camera footage reviewed by News Channel 3, officers were responding to reports that Jeremiah Spearman had allegedly been chasing down someone who had upset a family member. Officers can be heard saying the teen initially ran from them, though that alleged interaction is not captured on camera.

What the footage does show is officers eventually cornering Jeremiah Spearman near a residential area as he repeatedly tells them he does not have anything on him and that he didn't do anything wrong.

During the interaction, officers can also be heard suggesting the teen may have attempted to ditch something in nearby bushes. However, moments later, officers acknowledge they do not find anything.

At one point, an officer asks Jeremiah Spearman for his mother's phone number and eventually contacts her so she can respond to the scene.

But one exchange captured on body camera is now raising additional questions. Video shows Jeremiah Spearman telling officers that one of them had "just slammed" him. An officer then responds by saying force was used "because you weren't listening to me."

That interaction has become a central concern for the family, who argues the officer's own words appear to confirm physical force was used against the teen.

Jeremiah Spearman previously said officers "tackled me like a football team." His mother, when she arrived, says she found her son visibly shaken. "When I got there, my son's sitting on the curb crying, dirt all on his face, dirt all over his clothes," she said.

The June 4 encounter is now under even greater scrutiny after News Channel 3 reviewed a separate officer's written report from the June 14 incident. In that report, the officer states he was attempting to determine whether Jeremiah Spearman "was still planning on committing a crime or if he had already committed a crime before police contact."

The family argues that wording suggests officers may have approached the encounter already viewing the teen as a criminal before fully assessing the situation.

For Jeremiah, that encounter left him fearful and angry, and influenced how he reacted when he was approached again by officers on June 14. "I still had a little fright embedded in my head and anger. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't have to. I needed a parent around anyway," he said.

Martricia Spearman is now considering legal action against the department. "I am seeking legal action because this isn't the first time, this is the second time," she said.

The Spearmans are now expected to meet with Battle Creek Police Chief Shannon Bagley alongside representatives from the NAACP next week to discuss both incidents and what they believe needs to change moving forward.

Among the questions they say still remain unanswered is whether officers approached Jeremiah Spearman with preconceived assumptions from the beginning. The family also wants an explanation for why force was used against a 16-year-old, who officers ultimately found had nothing on him.

In the second encounter officers did find a pocket knife on Jeremiah Spearman. It's something he let officers know at the beginning, before he was detained.

News Channel 3 has reached out to the Battle Creek Police Department for additional comment regarding the June 4 encounter and whether the department believes officers acted within department policy, but have not yet heard back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened during the June 4 encounter between Jeremiah Spearman and Battle Creek Police?

A: Body camera footage shows officers cornering 16-year-old Jeremiah Spearman, who repeatedly stated he had nothing on him. The teen claimed officers "slammed" him, and an officer confirmed force was used because the teen wasn't listening.

Q: Why is the NAACP getting involved in this case?

A: The Spearman family is meeting with NAACP representatives and Battle Creek Police Chief Shannon Bagley to discuss concerns about use of force against a minor and potential policy changes for how officers interact with teens.

Q: What policy changes is the family requesting?

A: Martricia Spearman believes police need different policies for different age groups, arguing that adults and children should not be treated the same way during police encounters.