- The executive director of the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs, Celena Morrison, was arrested along with her husband during a dramatic traffic stop
- The incident was caught on camera and the two have since been released
A high-ranking Philadelphia city official and her husband were arrested by a police officer during a traffic stop – when the officer frantically shouted, “I work for the mayor.”
Celena Morrison, executive director of the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs, was arrested Saturday along with her husband, Darius McLean. Both have since been released without charge.
The shocking incident was recorded by Morrison. She can be heard screaming, “I work for the mayor,” as the unidentified state trooper arrests her husband.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker called the video “very disturbing” in a statement on X.
Pennsylvania State Police said the trooper initiated a traffic stop on I-76 westbound around 9 a.m. for a vehicle with multiple violations.
The incident was caught on camera and shared on Facebook. Darius McLean, Celena Morrison's husband, is arrested on the side of the road
The officer could be seen standing over McLean as Morrison, who recorded the ordeal, shouted at the officers
The officer then walked toward Morrison, who dropped her phone
They said the state trooper initially stopped a gray Infinity sedan – believed to be driven by Morrison – for “multiple vehicle code violations.”
A green Dodge sedan then pulled up behind the officer's car, believed to be driven by Morrison's husband, McLean.
The officer then approached the Dodge and police said the driver was “verbally combative” and “resisting arrest.”
Morrison began recording the incident and can be heard shouting, “I work for the mayor.”
As the officer stood over her husband, who was lying on the side of the road, Morrison said, “That's my husband… That's my husband, please.”
The officer attempted to handcuff McLean and a scuffle ensued.
Morrison is then heard saying, “That's because I'm black,” to which the officer responds, “It's not because you're black.”
The officer then approaches Morrison and she drops her cell phone.
He can be heard shouting to her: “Turn around” and “Give me your hands or you will be insulted.”
Morrison is executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia
Her husband, Darius McLean, is the COO of William Way Community Center, according to LinkedIn
Mayor Cherelle Parker called the incident on X “very concerning.”
Morrison then tells her husband not to worry before adding: “He just hit me.”
Later she can be heard saying, 'What's wrong? Why are you so aggressive?'
The police officer then picks up her phone and says, “It was a simple traffic stop because you didn’t have your lights on.” “You didn’t have your lights on and you were close.”
Both Morrison and McLean were taken into custody on resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct and other related charges, but were released without charge on Saturday.
McLean is the COO of the William Way Community Center, according to LinkedIn.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said on