When a Black real estate agent and his client were handcuffed in a case of mistaken identity that received national attention, police claim racial profiling was not a factor.
“After a thorough internal review of the actions of each of our public safety officers who responded to this incident, we have concluded race played no role in our officers’ treatment of the individuals who were briefly detained, and our officers responded appropriately. While it is unfortunate that innocent individuals were placed in handcuffs, our officers responded reasonably and according to department policy based on the information available to them at the time,” Wyoming police said in a written statement.
On Sunday, Aug. 1, Eric D. Brown, the agent, was showing a house to a man and his 15-year-old son. Wyoming police came to the house in five patrol cars, ordered the occupants to step out of the house with their hands up, and then detained all three.
The house was the site of an illegal entry on July 24, according to law enforcement, and an African american man was arrested.
A neighbor reported the person on Aug. 1 after his car, described as a black Mercedes, returned and he had entered the house.
The information in the report was completely inaccurate. On Friday, Wyoming police have released bodycam and dashcam video from the incident.
via MLive
