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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSt. Louis County police apologize to black family for 'headless horseman' remark
St. Louis County police have apologized for a white officers reference to the headless horseman while questioning a black family Friday about what they were doing at a home in the Mehlville area.
Dale C. Watson, 47, of St. Louis, said in an interview Tuesday that while he appreciates the apology, he wants the police department to discipline the officer and take steps to prevent similar behavior by its officers.
Watson said he, his wife, his nephew and his niece were fixing up a foreclosed home on Shady Green Drive for a real estate firm Friday morning when two St. Louis County patrolmen arrived and asked why they were there. After explaining, Watson said, one officer said, Im going to assume that youre legitimate, but if something happens down the road, then were gonna come down like the headless horseman. Do you know who the headless horseman is?
Watsons niece, Whitney Robinson, 25, recorded video of the conversation with her smartphone and released the clip to media. Watson said he believes the officers statement was racist and threatening.
more . . . http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-county-police-apologize-to-black-family-for-headless/article_4751b2eb-b364-5957-8fe1-82bbb29272f2.html
JI7
(89,174 posts)one of the good things about people being able to easily record things these days.
Sotf
(76 posts)... but why is it racist?
JI7
(89,174 posts)proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)Did you read the article?
Sotf
(76 posts)... like it was about the "headless horseman" part and not the contact itself.
Merely trying to determine if there was some hidden meaning to it or if it was just the contact itself the was deemed racist.
DefenseLawyer
(11,101 posts)They wouldn't have even stopped.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)And if that wasn't enough, he goes the full "You all are probably doing SOMETHING illegal sooner or later, and when you do I'll be on your ass..."
pintobean
(18,101 posts)is included in the news story video.
http://www.kmov.com/news/editors-pick/NAACP-involved-after-St-Louis-County-officer-allegedly-harasses-family--220258691.html