22 Dec Investigation Launched After Black Man Put In Handcuffs While Eating Dinner With His Family In A Mall All Because He ‘Fit The Description’

A black man was put in handcuffs while eating dinner with his family because the white cop said he “fit the description” of a suspect. Watch the encounter and tell us your thoughts inside…

A case of the WRONG man.

An investigation has been launched after a black man was put into handcuffs while he was dining with his family in a Virginia Beach mall.

According to reports, the man has been identified as Jamar Mackey. He was in the food court of the Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach when a police officer rolled up on him and put him in handcuffs while he was eating with his family. The detainment was caught on video and has gone viral:

“What did he do?” the woman recording asked.

The officer explained to the woman that Jamar fit the description of a suspect with “dreads” they were looking for.

“We got a description of someone using stolen credit cards. That person is a black male with dreads and is wearing all black and was with a boy wearing red,” the officer said.

Once they realized they had the wrong person, they let Jamar go, however he was PISSED. He was going OFF on the officers after they let him go, reminding them why folks scream “Black Lives Matter.”

“Certainly, anyone would be upset about being detained for something they didn’t do,” said Police Chief Paul Neudigate. “While the video shows the officer stayed calm and respectful throughout the brief encounter, we must ensure the situation merits the response. We are gathering all the facts to evaluate the incident so we can address the concerns people have raised.”

Virginia Beach City Councilman/former NFLer Aaron Rouse took to Facebook to condemn the officer’s actions:

“I am upset and frustrated for this man who has to endure the embarrassment and indignity of being handcuffed in front of his wife, children and crowd of shoppers for something he did not do,” Rouse wrote. “Like you all, I’ll be watching to see what more we learn in the coming days, so that we can better understand what actions we must take to prevent something like this from happening to anyone else.”

Read his full reaction below:

The Virginia Beach NAACP chapter also released a statement regarding the incident:

The Virginia Beach NAACP strongly condemns the apparent racial bias on display in the video clip that has widely circulated on social media today. In the midst of a global pandemic, Virginia Beach police officers – without masks or personal protective equipment – mistakenly detained a Black man who was spending quality time with his family. As a Virginia Beach officer stated “you have the right to be upset,” and indeed we are just that: quite upset.

Even more alarming, calls from the Virginia Beach NAACP to the Virginia Beach Police Chief remain unanswered as of Sunday evening. We are demanding a meeting with the Virginia Beach Police Chief within 48 hours. As the police department has not responded to our inquiries, the Virginia Beach NAACP has launched its own investigation into the incident.

The NAACP will not rest until every Black citizen in Virginia Beach can shop, dine, and travel without being racially profiled by our city’s police officers.

The woman who recorded the incident thanked everyone who sent their support after the scary incident:

Today, Chief Neudigate held a press conference and offered an apology.

“Right or wrong we have to be able to apologize when our actions greatly inconvenience a member of the community.” – @VBPD Chief Neudigate @WTKR3 https://t.co/on3k49PSbz pic.twitter.com/HIddnC1oL2

— Nana-Séntuo Bonsu (@NSBonsu_) December 21, 2020

“Right or wrong, we have to be able to apologize when our actions greatly inconvenience a member of the community,” he said.

They need to cough up some money and pay this man for GREATLY inconveniencing him while he was spending time with his family.

Photo: Thawornnurak/Shuttterstock.com