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The widely viewed Thanksgiving video of a pedestrian's investigative stop in Pontiac is "an edited version of the whole situation," says Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
Mike Bouchard: "This issue demonstrates one of the disadvantages of social media." (Photo by Alan Stamm)
The version put on Facebook and YouTube by Brandon McKean, 25. "cut out the deputy fully explaining as to why 911 was called on him, and ended with this person agreeing that the police should respond as they did," the lawman adds in a Monday afternoon message to Deadline Detroit.
He's responding to coverage of McKean's questioning on Thanksgiving, which the pedestrian videotaped on his phone and put online that day. It exceeds 570,000 YouTube viewings and was posted Sunday night by Gawker, drawing more than 600 comments.
At another prominent site, The Dish, blogger Andrew Sullivan put it up Monday afternoon with the headline "Walking While Black" He suggests readers "have to see this shit with our own eyes before we’ll begin to understand the rage that simmers beneath the headlines."
That type of reaction troubles Bouchard, in office since 1999.
"Unfortunately, this issue demonstrates one of the disadvantages of social media," he writes. "Oftentimes, individuals share things without knowing the facts and in some cases promote a specific agenda unrelated to the reality of the situation.
"The 911 call received by the Oakland County Dispatch Center [excerpted below] originated from a nearby business that had been a victim, as well as its employees, of seven robberies. The caller and his employees were concerned about the individual who had walked by the front window of the business five or six times, while looking inside with his hands in his pockets. Fearing for their safety, the business dialed 911 and the deputy responded.
"In the unedited version of the event, the individual stated that if he had called the police on a suspicious person, he would expect the police to respond, check the area, and talk to the suspicious person being called about."
The sheriff provided a three-page transcript of the 4:19 p.m. call last Thursday to the county's 911 dispatch center, "removing only the caller's information and address at his request as he said he is fearful." (A two-minute audio file is posted with this Detroit News article.)
Here are excerpts:
Caller: There's a light-skinned guy that passes by five-six times -- back and forth, back and forth, looking at us, looking inside -- and he keeps passing by and he sees a lot of people in here. He looks suspicious. . . .
Dispatch: OK, what's the address?
Caller: Just passed by again. What's the address here? Uh, [redacted] Martin Luther King. . . .
Dispatch: Were weapons involved or mentioned?
Caller: No, no, but he walks by, hands in his pocket -- walking back and forth, back and forth. . . . .
Dispatch: Are you or anyone else in immediate danger?
Caller: No, I mean, I'm assuming yes. He keeps going back and forth and looking at us. I mean I'm assuming he's going to do something, so that's why I'm trying to notify you guys. . . . Nothing's happening yet. . . .
Dispatch: . . . Deputies will be dispatched for you as soon as possible., OK? . . . Call us back immediately if anything changes.
In his message via social media, Bouchard concludes:
"The deputy did not detain or pat down the individual and considering the nature of the call responded in a very restrained and professional manner. . . .
"We will continue to take each and every call seriously at the Sheriff’s Office and hold our deputies to the highest standards and expectations of public service."
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