On April 22, 2020  around 1:40 pm, Iona Sass was on a bus that she owned and was renovating.  She had personal effects on the bus, as well as her six year old son Malachi and his puppy.  While she was working on cleaning out her personal items, North Charleston Police Officer Melvin Wallace Knocked on the secured door of her bus.  Officer Wallace insinuated that Iona’s bus was under investigation for suspicion of parties being thrown.  He immediately requested Iona provide identification, at that time Iona expressed that she did not have her license on her.  Officer Wallace then demanded that Iona move the bus from the location it was parked.  The bus at that time was parked off the main road in an easement, and there were no citations issued for parking violations.  Iona could not start the bus as she was working on correcting an electrical issue, and informed the officer of her situation.  It was at this moment that the officer then demanded yet again to see Iona’s identification. We do remind you Iona was never under suspicion of a crime, and to our knowledge one was never articulated to her.  

Iona wanted to look and insure her ID was not on the bus to appease Officer Wallace’s request.  She informed the officer that her pet and child were on the bus, and for their safety she was going to close the door while she looked for her identification. It was at this time that Officer Wallace decided he would escalate the situation.  He forcefully wedged the door open, and began trying to pull Ms Sass from the bus.  During this altercation two other officers arrived, they have not yet been identified to us. Ms. Sass under duress and in fear for her life wedged herself between the bus steps and the door, both of her legs planted firmly against the door frame, keeping the officers from pulling her from her bus. The two additional officers pulled her legs away from the door frame, as Officer Wallace stepped over her and kicked her in the back of the head striking her neck.  Once removed from the bus the officers detained Ms. Sass, still demanding she provide  identification.  At this time Ms. Sass provided her drivers licence number to the officers, as she did not physically have her licence in her possession. After running her information the officers released Ms. Sass to her own accord with no charges or citations issued. Ionna Sass suffered several injuries from this incident of police abuse and brutality. She is currently going through therapy, but it is unclear as to the extent of her physical injuries.

There are many areas of this story that are concerning and for many reasons.  We can start with the fact that Officer Melvin Wallace should have never created this incident without proper cause. Demanding identification without clear and articulate suspicion that a crime has been committed, is being committed, or is about to be committed is a direct violation of one’s fourth amendment rights. Officer Wallace and his accomplices should have never escalated this issue to the level that they did.  Escalating an incident to physical abuse by an officer of the law only  justifies the outcry for police reform, and transparency from the North Charleston Police Department.  Finally we must not forget that all of this happened in front of Iona’s six year old son.  He may forever carry these scars, no child should have to see his mother be torn away from their property and beaten by a Uniformed Officer of Law.

We are seeking Justice for Iona, for her son Malachi , and for every nameless victim of Melvin Wallace that we have not been made aware of.  We call for North Charleston’s Police Department to take criminal action against Iona Sass’ attackers, not just one but all three of them must be held accountable for the injustices she has endured.  The community of the Tri-County area will not stand silently as the police attack black men and women; stripping them of their constitutional rights,  beating them, hospitalizing them, and  killing them.  

This is the story of Iona Sass. We ask all of North Charleston, and the surrounding Tri County area to join us as we demand justice for Iona!