GASTONIA, N.C. — A hearing Wednesday ended with a key decision to release the body camera video of Joshua Rohrer's October 2021 arrest by Gastonia Police.
In North Carolina, a judge has the power to tell the police to share the video with the public. Months after the arrest went viral, the video will now be released to the public.
Joshua Rohrer was arrested on charges of panhandling and resisting arrest in October. According to Rohrer, his service dog Sunshine Rae was shot with a stun gun during the encounter. While she was in the care of Rohrer's veteran advocate, she ran away and later died after being struck by a car.
Since his arrest, Rohrer’s story has garnered national attention.
Only Rohrer, his attorney, and a few of his loved ones were allowed to view the body camera video in the District Attorney's office after the incident.
"I'm just at a loss for words right now, I really don't know what to say," Rohrer told WCNC Charlotte after viewing the video. "They lied! They lied!"
Rohrer said what stood out was when a Gastonia police officer used his stun gun on Sunshine Rae after he claimed she bit his boot.
'People need to see it' | Calls continue to change body camera law in North Carolina
Protesters in Gastonia again demanded police release body camera footage of Joshua Rohrer’s arrest.
Rohrer and his supporters stood outside the Gaston County Courthouse a week ago with signs reading “release the bodycam footage.”
Rohrer told WCNC Charlotte that he wants the video released to hold the police officers accountable and clear his name of what he called an unfair arrest.
His attorney filed a petition on July 15 to formally request a release of the video.
"Hopefully, it’s released this time and it's not denied by the judge because people need to see it,” Rohrer said.
Rohrer has seen the video for himself. Now, everyone else will get to watch it, too.
The judge approved Rohrer's petition to release all body camera video on Oct. 13, 2021, that relates to his arrest. He also approved the District Attorney and Gastonia Police Department's petition to release bodycam footage of interactions between the arresting police officers and Rohrer days before the arrest on Oct. 9. Rohrer and his attorney have not seen that video footage.
The Gastonia Police Department told WCNC Charlotte it plans to upload all the videos on YouTube once the judge's order is signed over on Thursday, July 28. Rohrer will also receive a copy of all the footage.
"I’m thankful that the judge did the right thing and released the footage because I'm tired," Rohrer said. "I'm tired, and I've been so stressed.”
During the court hearing on July 26, District Attorney Travis Page pushed back on releasing all the footage on Oct. 13 but did agree that the public has the right to see what happened during Rohrer's arrest.
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