When it comes to being Black in America, you pretty much walk around with a target on your back. That very statement now applies to a Black man who was picking up trash on his front lawn when police confronted him ready to shoot.
An internal investigation has now been launched in Boulder, Colorado, after a video went viral of a Black man being confronted by police, with guns drawn, for picking up trash on his own front lawn. According to Daily Camera, the incident started when one of the officers saw the man sitting close to a patio behind a “private property” sign. The officer then asked the unidentified man was he allowed to be there.
The man informed the officer that he lived and worked in the building, showing the policeman his school identification card, but that wasn’t enough proof for the officer, who ended up calling for backup to investigate further. Upon the officer’s request, he claimed the man was uncooperative and refused to drop a blunt object, which was a tool he was using to pick up trash. Eventually, several officers arrived at the scene, with their guns drawn and hands on their holsters.
One of the witnesses, who videotaped the incident and lives with the man, made sure to post the video online. In the video, you can hear the witness screaming, “Go home.” “He’s picking up trash, and you have your hand on your gun?” the roommate yelled. “Go home!”
The officer could also be heard asking the man to “put the object down.” “You’re on my property with a gun in your hand, threatening to shoot me, because I’m picking up trash,” the man could be heard yelling back. “I don’t have a weapon! This is a bucket; this is a clamp.”
“I live here! I’m a resident of this f–king property. I’m picking up garbage from my f–king porch,” he continued. “Don’t tell me what to f–king do. You guys don’t have a goddamn f–king right to be doing this!”
After hearing about the incident, the community called for a city council meeting, where many questioned the actions of the officers. In regards to the officers drawing their weapons, Chief Greg Testa said the officers are justified in pulling out their guns if they perceive a threat that could result in serious bodily injury or death, BET reports.
Councilwoman Lisa Morzel went on to question why there were so many police for such a minute and non-dangerous situation. “I can only assert that given the information that was there, that was why the number of officers arrived,” Testa said. “I don’t want to make an assumption because an investigation is ongoing.”
“This is an extremely concerning issue, and one that we are taking very seriously,” Testa added in a prepared statement.
The officer who instigated the incident has now been placed on administrative leave.
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