CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WINA) – The Charlottesville Police department has ordered an administrative investigation in the wake of alleged mistreatment of two homeless men in Market Street Park on Sep 16, 2023.

Dierdre Gilmore told City Council during Sep 20th’s regular meeting that two men were mistreated, KeMarcus Murray and Roscoe Boxley.

“There was an incident at the park where one of the officers kicked the young man that was sitting there,” she said. “He was trying to wake [KeMarcus Murry] up, but instead of gently touching him … he just decided to kick him.”

Teja Quartz told Council that Boxley was taken to jail for sleeping in a tent.

“This disgusting treatment and frankly abuse from the city is, honestly, quite ironic” given the fact that Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, to be more specific, have manufactured and perpetuated a housing crisis in this city,” she said.

The Charlottesville Police Department released a statement on Wednesday, stating that an investigation is underway because the department takes the speakers’ concerns seriously.

“For this concern to be brought up prompts an investigation,” said Public Safety Information Officer Kyle Ervin. “Whatever the facts were, whatever was said, we’re going to look into it, and we’ll have more information after that.”

The departments full release is below.

Sep 20, 2023, News Release

During the September 18th Charlottesville City Council meeting, members of the Charlottesville Police Department command staff were made aware of concerns related to a call for service in Market Street Park on September 16, 2023.

As a result of the information brought forth, an administrative investigation has been opened and the incident is being reviewed thoroughly. The Charlottesville Police Department values our relationship with this community and takes these concerns very seriously.