ROCK HILL, S.C. — An hour after officials announced a charge against him for interfering with Rock Hill police would be dropped - and the officer who originally arrested him had been fired and charged criminally - Travis Price spoke to reporters with his attorney.
"The whole situation is kind of a big issue with me because everybody is looking at me a different way now," said Travis. "My kids is what hurts me the most because now they are scared of the police; after they have seen what they did to me. But I accept the apology as a man because everybody makes mistakes, but I will never be the same again."
Price was reacting to the decision by the Rock Hill Police Department to fire and charged police officer Jonathan Moreno for his wrongful arrest on June 23.
During a lengthy news conference earlier Thursday afternoon, officials with York County and the City of Rock Hill released body camera footage.
"Why did no one step in? Why did no one say anything", said Justin Bamberg, an attorney representing Travis and his brother Ricky.
While standing outside of the York County Moss Justice Center, Travis Price and his attorney reacted to the release of the footage that led the York County Solicitor's Office to drop the charge against Travis.
Travis Price and his attorneys claimed he approached officers to try and retrieve jewelry belonging to Ricky, but was wrongly forced against a tank and charged for attempting to interfere with Ricky's arrest.
"His dignity, his character, his integrity was destroyed and it was destroyed publicly and you can't get that back," Justin Bamberg said. "His character was defamed."
The officer involved in the incident with Travis, Officer Johnathan Moreno has been charged with third-degree assault and battery stemming from his arrest of Travis Price.
Rock Hill police Chief Chris Watts said Thursday Moreno was wrong and had escalated the situation. Chiesa Putnam, senior solicitor for the city of Rock Hill, apologized to Travis and announced his charge of hindering police was dropped and his record expunged.
Rock Hill police's initial media release said they originally pulled Ricky Price over for an illegal turn while driving, but found a gun and drugs in his car. They claimed Ricky tried to resist arrest and flee after officers unlocked his handcuffs in order to give his jewelry to Travis.
In the same media release, the Rock Hill Police Department accused Travis Price of refusing to comply with officer's demands. They claimed he made repeated, physical contact with officers
"Travis then used his body to bump the Officers backward," they wrote at the time. "Travis shoved Officers, refusing to comply with orders to place his hands behind his back."
In the released video, Travis can be seen standing where police officers asked him to stand as they prepared to hand him jewelry from Ricky. However, Ofc. Moreno confronted Travis and placed him under arrest.
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