ORLANDO, Fla. — On Saturday, the Orlando Police Department painted a picture of a violent interaction with a "rowdy group" of pro-Palestinian demonstrators following a rally at Lake Eola that resulted in the arrest of eight people.
Information subsequently released by the department appears to call into question the accuracy of at least some of that description.
In a statement, the department said officers were on the scene following the rally, which they said "concluded peacefully" at around 5:15 p.m., when demonstrators got into an argument with "a person of opposing views" about 15 minutes later.
According to the statement, the altercation started when "a member of the Pro-Palestinian demonstration group lunged toward an OPD officer and the opposing citizen in a physically threatening manner."
Bodycam video released by OPD as part of an updated statement Sunday — which no longer contained the description of the lunging demonstrator — appears to show a very different set of circumstances.
The edited video — which runs 2 minutes and 10 seconds long and includes a section with no audio and several title cards — instead appears to show an individual wearing a headscarf and facemask calmly walking alongside the officer as he or she takes cellphone video of the unnamed "opposing citizen." Moments later, the officer is seen roughly shoving the individual, who falls back several feet into a tree. Video from the Orlando Police Department does not appear to show the individual acting in a "physically threatening" way.
Cellphone video of the incident posted to Instagram by an apparent bystander, also seems to contradict the way OPD initially described the demonstrator. In it, the individual is not seen "physically threatening" the officer or the unnamed "opposing citizen."
Following the officer's actions, OPD bodycam footage shows other demonstrators rush toward the individual on the ground — some in an apparent attempt to shield him or her from police, while others are seen physically engaging with officers.
Lamia Moukaddam, who says she is the person who was shoved in the video, denied doing anything that would warrant what happened.
"I did not lay a single hand on them," she said of the officer and unnamed woman. "It was not an intention — it was not a thought in my head. I went to record what was happening."
In all, Orlando Police Department officials said that eight demonstrators were arrested on charges that included disorderly conduct, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and resisting arrest without violence.
Spectrum News has requested the full, unedited bodycam video from all officers present at the scene, and requested an interview with Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith.
In an emailed response, OPD public relations said: "Chief is not available for interviews."
The email also said that additional records requests should be made via the city of Orlando's public records request online portal.
Spectrum News has obtained arrest reports for only two of the eight arrests: 21-year-old Miranda Mellon and 22-year-old Madyson Emerald Gaya, who were both charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.
Orlando Police Department officials said a use-of-force investigation connected to the incident is underway.
When asked for a comment, the city of Orlando released the following statement:
“As a city, we work to ensure our community has the right to express their opinions and peacefully assemble. The city is committed to keeping everyone safe who chooses to peacefully protest in the city, while also maintaining the safety of residents and businesses.”