Photo: Getty Images
A judge has thrown out a case involving a Black teenager who was arrested by an "unhinged" white police officer, the Daily Mail reports.
The case stemmed from an arrest in Dunleith, Delaware on June 29. The 17-year-old teen was walking with his friends on a sidewalk when they were approached by police.
The teen recorded his interaction with the officers, who demanded the group stop walking and provide identification. When the teen asked why he was being stopped, an officer responded: "I'm telling you to stop."
The 17-year-old again asked the reason behind the stop.
"Stop walking and just chill. … Right now, we're stopping you for a pedestrian violation," the officer said.
"Pedestrian violation of what?" the teenager asked before the officer handcuffed him.
"Right now, you're being detained because you are uncooperating with a traffic stop," authorities said.
The teen continued to press police for clarification on the stop.
"You want to shut the f*** up and let me explain it to you? You crossed the road without using the crosswalk," an officer replied.
The teen was the only person in the group to be ticketed. His charges were later dropped by a judge.
"I don't understand if he thought it was going to get me angry or what he thought it was going to possibly do," the teen said of the incident. "I don't know. I'm still in shock about it."
Paula Wright, the boy's mother, called the officer who arrested her son "unhinged."
"I think they're absolutely unhinged. To be honest with you, I think that they're the biggest gang in Delaware," Wright said. "The cop, for him to get out of the car and say "Stop right there. Give me your ID right now. I'm gonna detain you", What sort of approach is that?"
Police claimed that the stop was justified, citing that the group was behaving "recklessly" and "suspiciously."
"Officers witnessed the group run across New Castle Avenue without utilizing a proper crosswalk. While crossing the road, one of the individuals was observed running recklessly through active traffic, nearly causing an accident," Senior Cpl. Richard Chambers said in a statement.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.