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Officer's actions toward Black Indiana senator under review
Source: Associated Press
Officer’s actions toward Black Indiana senator under review
July 14, 2020
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana State Police are reviewing allegations that a white Capitol Police officer reached for his handgun while confronting a Black state senator inside the Statehouse over the weekend, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.
The incident happened Saturday while Democratic Sen. Eddie Melton of Gary was taking part in a rally sponsored by the Indiana Racial Justice Alliance. The event started outside the Statehouse, but Melton and another senator led the few dozen people taking part inside the building when a thunderstorm arrived.
The Statehouse has been closed to the public during the coronavirus outbreak, but Democratic Sen. J.D. Ford of Indianapolis, who is white, said private security staff allowed the group inside before calling to the area two Capitol Police officers who were aggressive from the start.
Belinda Drake, a Democratic state Senate candidate from Indianapolis, said a white Capitol Police officer rushing toward the group saw Melton and yelled at him to “freeze” while unsnapping the holster on his firearm.
“Senator Ford tried to deescalate the situation, tried to get the trooper to take notice and listen, but the trooper was so singularly focused on Senator Melton,” Drake said.
-snip-
July 14, 2020
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana State Police are reviewing allegations that a white Capitol Police officer reached for his handgun while confronting a Black state senator inside the Statehouse over the weekend, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.
The incident happened Saturday while Democratic Sen. Eddie Melton of Gary was taking part in a rally sponsored by the Indiana Racial Justice Alliance. The event started outside the Statehouse, but Melton and another senator led the few dozen people taking part inside the building when a thunderstorm arrived.
The Statehouse has been closed to the public during the coronavirus outbreak, but Democratic Sen. J.D. Ford of Indianapolis, who is white, said private security staff allowed the group inside before calling to the area two Capitol Police officers who were aggressive from the start.
Belinda Drake, a Democratic state Senate candidate from Indianapolis, said a white Capitol Police officer rushing toward the group saw Melton and yelled at him to “freeze” while unsnapping the holster on his firearm.
“Senator Ford tried to deescalate the situation, tried to get the trooper to take notice and listen, but the trooper was so singularly focused on Senator Melton,” Drake said.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/8eec13ae84b6304af641768351949489