‘I can’t breathe,’ says UK lawyer Dele Johnson pinned down by security for refusing to remove shoes
A duty solicitor recounted a harrowing experience where he was restrained by “four or five” court security staff, despite his plea that he couldn’t breathe.
Defence solicitor Dele Johnson, speaking with The Law Society Gazette, described how guards pinned him down with their knees after he refused a security search request to remove his shoes.
The incident took place as Johnson was fulfilling his duties in the Youth Court at Stratford Magistrates’ on Wednesday, May 1.
He told the Gazette he thought “for about 30 seconds that I was in danger.”
Johnson, 37, drew a parallel between his experience and the tragic incident involving George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police ignited the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I never thought I’d also be saying ‘I can’t breathe’,’ said Mr Johnson. ‘I was just trying to do my job.”
The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association has raised concerns, stating that lawyers may boycott the court if the guards allegedly involved in the assault on Johnson are not suspended by the private company OCS.
Johnson’s identification card was checked upon his arrival as a duty youth court solicitor on Wednesday.
Following a brief exit from the building for a cigarette break, he consented to a pat-down search upon his return but refused to remove his shoes, leading to an altercation with four guards who forcibly removed him.
Despite having a defendant awaiting his representation, Johnson attempted to re-enter the building through a side door, only to be intercepted by “four or five” guards.
During the court proceedings, Johnson stated that security personnel had entered the courtroom. He had a feeling that this was probably related to him.
After the court proceedings, Johnson exited the courtroom and engaged in discussions with fellow representatives.
Upon his arrival, he was denied entry by the security personnel.
Johnson said, “One of the security officers blocked me while I tried to go to court number 10.”
Johnson, who used the second door to attempt entry, added, “He pushed me and I said “What are you doing?”. I tried to go through the other door, and he pushed me and said “You’re not going in”. Then somebody grabbed me by the neck, another person grabbed my arm.”
Johnson said, at this point, “four or five” guards grabbed him.
He said, “I was saying “you need to let me go” but it got worse. I said, “If you do not let go of me, I will have to defend myself”. I started swinging. I felt like I was fighting for my life against five grown men to stop them from holding me and grabbing me.
“Eventually, they got me on the ground, and it hurt a little bit. There were quite a few grown men on my back. Their knees were on my arms, legs, and back.
“I have asthma, my chest was being pushed to the floor so now I am struggling to breathe.
“I never thought I would be the one saying “I cannot breathe”.
“I was just trying to do my job. It was my duty to be there.”
According to Johnson, he couldn’t recall the exact moment when the security guards released him from the ground, but he did remember that the presence of the police at the court put an end to the situation.
The incident occurred two weeks after defence solicitor Katie McFadden disclosed on X.com that court security personnel in the Stratford Magistrate insisted on conducting invasive pat-down searches, including feeling under her dress.
McFadden tweeted that during one search earlier this year, security staff felt “my legs all of the way under my dress up to my groin.”
The controversy arises amid protests from female lawyers over highly invasive ‘pat-down’ searches at Stratford Magistrates’ Court in East London, Daily Mail reports.
A barrister, who requested anonymity, informed The Mail on Sunday that security personnel at the court exhibit behaviour akin to “nightclub bouncers”.
Another barrister remarked, “Some are thinking of a boycott here.”
Daily Mail reports that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, has reacted to the situation.
‘These are serious complaints we are urgently investigating as a priority. Our security measures are designed to protect all court users and are under constant review,” he said.
