Jay-Z's Team ROC Offers Legal Aid to Phoenix Couple Involved in Brutal Police Incident

A couple reportedly abused by police officers receives legal help from Jay-Z's company after a video of the incident went viral. With the rapper's help, they're suing the city of Phoenix for $10 million.

Jay-Z is not only a successful rapper and businessman, but he’s also a man for others. He demonstrated this many times in the past and reportedly more recently when he offered legal support for a family who experienced unwarranted abuse from Phoenix authorities.

A RECAP OF THE INCIDENT

On May 29, Dravon Ames and his pregnant fiancée Iesha Harper cried foul over police officers who threatened them with guns and harmed Ames and their daughter after they were pulled over for alleged shoplifting. Police claimed one of the couple’s children stole a doll from a dollar store.

The family was pulled over near 36th and Roosevelt Streets. According to the couple, cops became aggressive with them as they pulled out a gun and pointed it at their children who were with them.

When they finally succeed in opening the door, the woman inside cries to stop the cops from pointing a gun at her children. She also tells them she’s pregnant and that they’re “overdoing” it.

HOW THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED ON VIDEO

A video of the incident has gone viral revealing cops shouting outside a vehicle demanding the people inside to get out of the car. “Get out the [expletive] car! You’re going to get shot!” one of them yells as he continues to point his gun at the vehicle.

A woman’s voice is heard in the background arguing with the police who tells her to put her hands up. She says, “It doesn’t open, I promise it doesn’t open.” The woman adds that she can’t open the door because she’s holding her babies.

The bystander who took the video gets quite concerned and tries to intervene by telling the police to calm down. He talks to his companion describing what happened. “They just came out yelling. He didn’t say nothing,” he said.

When they finally succeed in opening the door, the woman inside cries to stop the cops from pointing a gun at her children. She also tells them she’s pregnant and that they’re “overdoing” it.

When the couple finally emerged from their vehicle, police continue to get rough with them and shout at them. “When I tell you to do something you [expletive] do it,” the cop yells at Ames who replies, “I am, I’m complying with everything, sir.”

Meanwhile, two other policemen harass Harper who argues she did nothing wrong and tells them her babies are crying inside. When she finally picks up her child, the cop demands her to put the baby down but she reasons her baby can’t walk.

The bystander who took the video gets quite concerned and tries to intervene by telling the police to calm down. He talks to his companion describing what happened.

“They just came out yelling. He didn’t say nothing,” he said to which his companion replied, “He just came out screaming and hollering at her. He didn’t have to come at her like that, man. That’s ridiculous.”

Ames, 22, and Harper, 24 are reportedly seeking $10 million from the city of Phoenix to make up for the harassment they were subjected to. They claimed police committed battery, unlawful imprisonment, false arrest and infliction of emotional stress in addition to the violation of their rights.

JAY-Z REACHES OUT

It appears many who viewed the clip finds the whole thing ridiculous too and that includes Jay-Z who made a move to help the couple. His Team Roc secured the services of lawyer Alex Spiro to help the family on a pro-bono basis and assist them in filing charges against the police officers.

Ames, 22, and Harper, 24, are reportedly seeking $10 million from the city of Phoenix to make up for the harassment they were subjected to. They claimed police committed battery, unlawful imprisonment, false arrest and infliction of emotional stress in addition to the violation of their rights.

Spiro’s team also plans to charge one of the officers for child neglect and is demanding for the termination of all officers involved in the incident.

"There is no place for that behavior in our world – let alone our justice system – and we are calling for the immediate termination of the police officers in question," Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy Dania Diaz said. "We are committed to supporting the family to ensure that justice is served.”

HOW PHOENIX POLICE RESPONDED AFTER THE INCIDENT

Meanwhile, Phoenix police released a 16-page report explaining what transpired based on their account. It said the couple stole items from the store and became combative. One of the officers also thought Ames was reaching for a weapon at one point.

Regardless, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams acknowledges the disturbing behavior of her officers and assures this is not representative of the actions of the majority of the task force.

TEAM ROC'S RECENT EFFORT TO DEFEND A SIXTH GRADER

The couple is the latest among those assisted by Jay-Z’s Team ROC which devotes its efforts to defending victims of racial injustice.

In March, the company also helped a 6th grader who was arrested because he refused to stand up during his school’s Pledge of Allegiance ceremony and got into an argument with his teacher. With the help of attorney Spiro, the case was eventually dismissed.