The LA County Sheriffs have been criticised after deputies drew weapons on three black teenagers who had called 911 for help.
According to reports, video footage shows the disturbing moment white officers levelled guns at the teens after they had called the authorities to report a homeless man having asked them for drugs.
It’s said the homeless man pulled a knife on the teens and tried to rob them after asking for the drugs, leading them to call the police for aid. Yet when their help arrived the situation took a very sudden and very frightening twist.
A mother of one of the teens involved said her son described the moment the homeless man had ripped his shirt off and pulled out a knife.
The teens used their skateboards to fend him off, with several calls soon placed to the authorities. Reports allege that all but one of said calls told of the homeless man’s attack on the teens, but a woman simultaneously placed a call saying that “two black guys were attacking a homeless man”.
As per TMZ, the LA County Sheriff’s Department claim a 911 call was placed to report an assault with a deadly weapon – more specifically two males hitting another with a skateboard.
When officers arrived on scene, several witnesses tried to explain what had happened, but were told to move away. The police then drew their weapons on the black teenagers and the situation escalated.
Fortunately, after the deputies had spoken with the teenagers and witnesses, they released them without any arrests being made. The department said it was unaware what had happened to the homeless man.
Tammi Collins, the mom of the one of the teenagers, said: “I wanted to share what happened to my son yesterday in SCV when he was with a couple of friends sitting at a bus stop headed home.
“He was attacked by a gentleman (homeless guy) who approached them and first asked them if they had any crack then tried to take their things.”
She continued: “This is how the police responded. This is something my son and his friends will never forget. I’m still wonder how will I ever help my son recover from this traumatic experience. Please pray for my family. Please share to protect our kids!!!”
I can’t believe this sort of thing is still happening, particularly in the wake of the protests to end police brutality after the events that took place earlier this year.
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