The lawlessness of the police, especially against African-Americans, in the United States (US) seems not to have come to an end. Apart from the brutal killings of unarmed blacks by white police officers, there is also glaring evidence to say that white police officers have a certain prejudice against the African-American community across the US.
In Michigan, police detained an African-American man because they thought that he looked like a criminal they were looking for. Unknown to the police (who were white officers), the man they were harassing, Mr. Sylvan Triggs, is a former police officer. He knew his rights and kept his composure as the white officers continued to harass him.
Triggs said he later had an idea that he needed to record the incident secretly as he feared that something nasty might happen to him. He then secretly clicked on his smart phone to record the incident.
“I told them that I was going to reach into my pocket and retrieve my phone to call 911 because I felt threatened and wanted to speak with a Supervisor. They yelled that they were the cops and to immediately remove my hands from my pockets; an known police tactic to make it seem as if I was being uncooperative in order to warrant them escalating their actions. For my own safety and protection I then moved to the side of my vehicle and began to record the entire incident with my cell phone camera”, Triggs later narrated.
The white officers said they were looking for an African American man wearing black shorts, and since Triggs was in fact wearing black shorts at that moment, he was the one they were looking for. This is how policing has been reduced to in America. You can be arrested for the color… of your attire.
But to make matters worse for the police, when Triggs looked up the actual description of the flasher, it turned out that he was a tall white male in his 20’s. Triggs was a short black male in his 40′s. This seemed like a clear-cut case of racial harassment against Triggs.
“I walked from my home to my car in my town house complex parking lot I noticed a white Pontiac Grand Prix and a Canton Michigan police car pull in front of my vehicle blocking me in to the parking space. Without identifying himself a white male wearing all black exited the grand prix followed by an also unidentified uniformed police officer from the police cruiser and begin to order me to produce some identification. Neither person explained to me the situation or why they needed the identification and it was only after I asked why they needed my I.D. did they simply say that I fit the description”, Triggs explained further.
It was only when the officers realized that they were being recorded that they decided to allow Triggs to go, probably fearing that he would expose them to the public. For Triggs, arresting people in this manner is discrimination; he said “I don’t believe that using the phrase “fit the description” can justify ill treatment of certain citizens. “Fitting the description” shouldn’t not allow law enforcement officers to randomly round up persons that fit 2 out of the 8 description characteristics (black & male), which from the police report I learned another citizen in the area (black & male) had suffered this same fate. My hope is that by exposing this incident to public scrutiny it will offer the Canton Police department the opportunity to take a glimpse at how some of the citizens which they are sworn to protect feel about such treatment.”
It is good that Triggs recorded the incident, and it looks like everybody must now be ready to record any encounter with the police in America today.
African American Former Cop Confronts Racist Officers Who Said He ‘Fit the Description’
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Why is this a story. The guy could of just handlers it instead of whining like a child who didn’t get picked up in a long time. I had a short neighbor who acted just like him.
shuddup
I’m sorry but this is so stupid… if he fits the description then why the fuck would they not detain him!? i mean come on if this was a black cop and a white civi then no fucks would be given, if anything thats more racist!- oh wait theres no such thing as racism to white people duuh! The police are looking for someone, they go “oh look he looks like the bad and dangerous person we are looking for!” then when they try to arrest him fair play to the guy for demonstrating his innocence but for fucks sakes stop calling everything racist its seriously stupid! Trust me, some of the shit American cops have done is god awful but this is just idiotic and kinda taking the piss.
Hey retard read the story again the DESCRIPTION was:
20yr Old Tall Caucasian Male
Not:
40yr Old Short African Male
He DIDNT match the description and they lied just to harass him, now go drink some bleach or slit your wrists you fuckin sap
this is bullshit. mr. Triggs is not acting as a former Police Officer. He is acting like idiot. I dont know who you are, just tell me who you are and show me your ID and it is ok.
It has to do with defending your rights as a free individual. Why should we accept a police state, if you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve got nothing to hide mentality? It’s out RIGHT to be free and independent without interference from police interrogation. Every passive person who accepts thus intrusion into our lives erodes our right to live FREE!
Everyone needs to realize that if you are going police work. Then actual work should be done. fits the description should be the police credo. You fit the description do we have the right to assault you and/or waste your time. Have some valid reason to stop me out I’m sorry it’s just plain harassment.
You people are all morons for not actually reading the article…The suspect was WHITE and this dude was BLACk….end of story end of list end of anything… HELLO!!!!
They should have bodyguard like me about Free ()__() because this World is not safe Place or secure place by Governments
Listen, the man had a fair point. Albeit he didnt thoroughly read the article but that is no reason to tell a man to kill himself. There is still a thing out there as making mistakes or being a decent human being. Even though the world is going to shit you can still be a good person and I honestly dont care if you were trolling or having a laugh, if you want to bring change and make the world better start with yourself.
Would have liked to read the article and comments but couldn’t read it with your background.
I actually clicked on the photo, I thought it was a video…….