Unarmed man surrounded by cops who don't move to arrest - woman taping it saved his life

[iluvtennis]

David Cay Johnston
@DavidCayJ
Police scandal in Hawthorne, an LA suburb — Unarmed man surrounded by cops who don’t move to arrest, but keep guns on him while 1 cop points her military weapon AT citizen capturing this on cell phone.

The police chief & every cop on scene needs to be held accountable.

Rebecca J. Kavanagh
@drrjkavanagh
· Jun 9
Cops with guns drawn surrounded an unarmed Black man, William, who was kneeling on the ground with his hands in the air, in California this AM.

It’s filmed by a young woman, Skye, who I think literally saves his life. Listening to her is gut-wrenching.
Show this thread

Link to tweet

----
I suspect police would have killed this young man had the woman walking by not stopped to film it on her cell phone. Thank you Skye!!!!

[Judi Lynn]

1. Not a doubt in the world he would have been killed. Skye's courage and compassion saved William.

So glad you caught this posting from David Cay Johnston, so glad he found it reading it from Rebecca Kavanagh.

The video should move anyone of character right down to the bone. Her love for her fellow man helped her focus and communicate meaningfully with the police, whereas someone else might have simply fallen apart and screamed helplessly. She really had her stuff together.

Hope William will not be abused at the police station.

Best wishes to both William and his angel, Skye. She helped center the police people who seemed entirely unprepared to show mercy in the situation.

[SunSeeker]

4. My thoughts too. Found more details at the Root.

https://www.theroot.com/california-police-swarm-an-unarmed-black-man-with-guns-1835378243

It appears he was at the gas station, like the woman filming, when police confronted him, because he apparently "loosely fit the description" of a robbery suspect.

William says he was at the gas station when police "attacked me."

Found this press release from Hawthorne PD: https://hawthornepolice.com/press-releases-1/arrest-06-07-19. HPD is saying William and 2 others got into some sort of disagreement and altercation with the clerk at the gas station. The cletk cslled the cops and identified William and another man, who was also arrested.

[iluvtennis]

6. Well stated JudiLynn

[Progressive Jones]

2. Pathetic. How many cops, and how many weapons on one man who isn't resisting? nt

[SunSeeker]

3. Glad this black man survived the arrest.

Others haven't been so lucky.

I can't believe how many cops were pointing their guns at an unarmed, kneeling man with his hands up. If black men scare you that much, you should not be a cop.

[iluvtennis]

5. Kneeling, hands up, and his back to the cops...but the cops still felt threatended -- SHAMEFUL.