'These are our fellow students': Concerns raised about ALE's use of force in UNC student's arrest

Some University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students are raising concerns about an arrest last week on Franklin Street.

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement conducted a statewide operation on Aug. 25, when they arrested and charged Alexander Sumner.

Sumner, 20, is charged with resisting, delaying, or obstructing of a law enforcement officer, possessing a fake ID and purchasing alcohol with it, and underage possession of alcohol.

ALE special agents said they had reason to believe Sumner was illegally purchasing malt beverages from Tar Heel Station at 167 East Franklin St. Authorities used force in the arrest, and some university students believe it was excessive.

UNC Vice President of Undergraduates Sam Robinson was out on Franklin Street on Aug. 25, but did not witness Sumner’s arrest. Like others, he saw photos on social media that showed Sumner with an officer kneeling on his back.

“It's heartbreaking. It's scary. It's unfortunate,” Robinson said. “These are our fellow students."

Robinson urged students to contact ALE.

“The fact that we had one of our students under two ALE officers for something like an alcohol violation is absolutely ridiculous, and we're going to keep fighting and pressing on that,” Robinson said.

WRAL News reached out to ALE multiple times on Monday with questions.

In a statement, ALE wrote that special agents identified themselves to Sumner, asking to see his identification.

The agency said Sumner refused to stop, and they placed him on the ground to put him in handcuffs.

A few 911 calls from bystanders illustrate confusion about the arrest.

"There's someone yelling for help," one caller said. "[It] seems like he's being mugged or something."

"The two men arrested him, they don't have badges out," another caller said. "I can't tell if they're legitimate police officers."

Callers were concerned the ALE agents aren't law enforcement, and they questioned the use of force.

"He's yelling for help," one caller said. "He's screaming for help. [There are] two people on top of him."

On Friday morning, the Chapel Hill Police Department released a statement, emphasizing that Thursday night's arrest was not part of a CHPD operation.

"We believe that building and maintaining trust with everyone we serve is fundamental to a safe community for all,” Chief Chris Blue wrote in a statement. “Any incident that damages that trust is of concern to me and the members of the Chapel Hill Police Department."

ALE said a use of force review board will review the arrest of Sumner. The agency uses the board for all arrests using use of force.

WRAL News reached out to Sumner and his family. They said he does not want to comment as of Monday and is taking time to process what happened.

North Carolina announces 189 arrests in alcohol crackdown

During the Aug. 25 operation, authorities made 189 arrests in a statewide crackdown. The agency announced 449 charges, including 20 felonies, 261 alcohol-related charges and 80 drug-related charges.

Throughout the agency’s eight districts, special agents executed four search warrants, seized six firearms, 78 fraudulent identifications, U.S. currency and various types of illegal controlled substances.

The operation found 21 ABC-permitted businesses to be in violation of state laws and regulations.

ALE’s 108 specially trained agents have the authority to arrest and take investigatory action throughout North Carolina. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control, tobacco, state lottery and gambling laws.