- Executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia, Celena Morrison, was arrested along with her husband during a dramatic traffic stop
- The incident was caught on camera and the pair have both since been released
A top Philadelphia city official and her husband were detained by a state trooper during a traffic stop – as the official desperately called out ‘I work for the mayor.’
Celena Morrison, Philadelphia’s executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, was arrested on Saturday along with her husband, Darius McLean. They have both since been released without charge.
The shocking incident was recorded by Morrison, who can be heard yelling ‘I work for the mayor’ while the unidentified state trooper detains her husband.
McLean, who is seen lying on the side of the highway while the cop handcuffs him, calls out to his distressed wife. He then shouts: ‘It’s because I’m black.’
Philadelphia’s Mayor Cherelle Parker, who Morrison works for, branded the video ‘very concerning’ in a statement on X.
The incident was caught on camera and shared on Facebook. Darius McLean, Celena Morrison’s husband, is seen being arrested on the side of the highway
Morrison is the executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia
They said that the state trooper initially pulled over a gray Infinity sedan – thought to be driven by Morrison – for ‘multiple Vehicle Code violations’.
A green Dodge sedan then pulled up behind the trooper’s car, thought to be driven by Morrison’s husband, McLean.
The trooper then approached the Dodge and police said the driver was ‘verbally combative’ and ‘resisted arrest’.
Morrison started recording the incident and can be heard yelling ‘I work for the mayor’ while her husband scrambled on the ground.
As the trooper stood over her husband lying on the side of the road, Morrison said: ‘That is my husband… That’s my husband please.’
The trooper tried to handcuff McLean and a scuffle broke out.
McLean can then be heard saying ‘it’s cause I’m black’ to which the trooper replies ‘it’s not cause you’re black’.
The trooper then approaches Morrison and she drops her phone.
He can be heard yelling at her ‘turn around’ and ‘give me your hands or you’re getting tased’.
The trooper could be seen standing over McLean while Morrison, who is recording the ordeal, shouted at the cops
Her husband, Darius McLean is the COO of William Way Community Center according to his LinkedIn
Mayor Cherelle Parker branded the incident ‘very concerning’ on X
The trooper then approached Morrison who dropped her phone. She was also handcuffed and arrested
Morrison then tells her husband not to worry, before adding: ‘He just punched me’.
She can later be heard saying: ‘What is going on? Why are you so aggressive?’
The trooper then picks up her phone and says: ‘This was a simple traffic stop cause you didn’t have your lights on. You didn’t have your lights on and you’re tailgating.’
Both Morrison and McLean were taken into custody for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct and other related charges, but were released on Saturday without being charged.
McLean is the COO of William Way Community Center according to his LinkedIn.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said on X: ‘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.’