QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) — The police chief in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, is on leave amid an investigation into a student protest that turned violent.
The borough solicitor confirms that Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree – who also serves as the borough’s city manager – is currently on workers’ compensation leave.
His leave comes as outrage grows over the arrests of five teenagers following a clash during an anti-ICE protest one week ago.
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Video captured by bystanders appears to show McElree in plain clothes confronting students and putting one teen in a chokehold.
There is continued fallout with calls for the chief to resign and criticism over how the Quakertown Community School District handled the protest and the arrests.
Quakertown police initially said some students engaged in “disruptive behavior” during the walkout, including hitting and kicking cars and blocking traffic. Students, however, countered that some of the altercations stemmed from harassment by drivers, including those in trucks.
The police department, borough council and district attorney’s office have declined to comment further until the investigation is complete.
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