JACKSON – Police officers have been accused of racially profiling a Black man who police described as being suspicious because he allegedly reached for something and wore a hoodie during a warm day.
The driver, a DJ who goes by the stage name ViBin Mall, turned on a cell phone camera after being pulled over.
Mall posted the video online, saying that it shows he was racially profiled and forcibly arrested. He was later hospitalized following the traffic stop on June 2. His Facebook page shows the exchange: facebook.com/reel/2098628134344211
The video begins once Mall is pulled over and two officers have approached his vehicle. His hoodie is bright red. A child car seat is seen in the back seat. The officers tell him they were patrolling the Jackson Mews development, and Mall allegedly hid his face, reached down and looked suspicious because he was wearing hoodie in 80-degree weather.
“If everything is fine, we’ll have you right on your way,” the lead officer remarked.
Mall questioned why he had been stopped and voiced that he would be making a complaint to their superiors as he felt it was unjustified and racially motivated.
Mall asked the officers for their badge numbers after asking them to repeat the reasons for the traffic stop. When he asked for a supervisor, the lead officer asked him to step out of his car. Mall refused to do so saying he had asked for a supervisor prior to being asked to step out of his vehicle.
“You are trying to say I am looking suspicious walking out of my apartment to my car. I know my rights. You are racially profiling me. When your supervisor gets here then I will get out of my car. Call your supervisor,” Mall said.
“You must get out of your car if the officer asks you to get out of the vehicle,” the second officer told Mall. The officers informed him of his expired inspection sticker during the stop which Mall responded to them saying the expiration was dated for that day and was not the cause of their making the traffic stop.
One of the two officers entered his locked car. This part was not on video but Mall narrated that the officer allegedly broke the door handle and forcibly removed the man.
He has alleged that when police put him against his car, it hurt his back. He has screws and rods in his back from a spinal fusion that he had two years ago.
He said afterward on social media that he was sitting in his vehicle at the Jackson Mews complex while talking on his cellphone. His plan was to get groceries and pick up his son. The officers drove past him, and then positioned themselves near the entrance to the complex and then followed him for several miles before stopping him, he said.
Police Chief Mary Nelson issued a statement confirming that the Police Department “is aware of a video recently posted on social media depicting a motor vehicle stop involving one of our officers.
The Jackson Township Police Department takes all allegations of discrimination seriously.”
“We are aware of the concerns that have been raised and are reviewing the matter in accordance with our policies and procedures. A thorough and impartial review will be conducted to ensure all relevant facts and circumstances are considered,” the chief added.
Chief Nelson also said, “we encourage anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact the Jackson Township Police Department so that it may be included in our review. The Jackson Township Police Department remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and maintaining the trust of the community we serve.”
The incident has since gained further attention on social media and news reports causing some debate regarding whether the police stop was justified.
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