Video footage shows a transgender woman being held in a chokehold and dropped by Baltimore corrections officer Zanel Santana.  

In June 2019, Amber Canter was detained at the Baltimore City Central Booking & Intake Center when she was put into a chokehold and dropped on her face by officer Santana. According to Canter’s civil complaint, she suffered bone fractures in her face, bruising, internal bleeding and pneumocephalus.  

The footage was released by Canter’s attorney Malcolm Ruff for a civil lawsuit against Baltimore and other alleged officers responsible. Officer Uchenna Okeke and Sgt. Monyette Washington are included in the lawsuit.  

Ruff says Canter’s treatment will not “go unaddressed.”  

“We will not let this apparent hate crime, committed under the watch of the Maryland prison system, go unaddressed,” Ruff and attorney William H. Murphy Jr. said. “Amber has long fought for transgender rights and has vigorously complained about the state correctional system’s mistreatment of her and other members of the LGBTQ inmate community.” 

Per Canter’s lawsuit, Santana’s use of a chokehold on Canter is “expressly forbidden according to DPSCS use of force training directive.” Additionally, it was “an attempt to cause Amber as much pain as possible.”  

According to court records, Santana, Washington and Okeke are scheduled to appear in court March 16 as it pertains to their criminal charges.