Police officers surround Black man picking up trash in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, CO — A Black man, who was merely picking up trash outside his own house in Boulder, Colorado, was recently confronted by a police officer who accused him of trespassing and not cooperating. The police officer even called for back-up and detained the man despite him saying that he actually lived and worked in the building.
When the officer asked the man if he was allowed there, the man told him he lived and worked in the building, and willingly gave him his school identification card. Still, the officer detained the man to investigate further.
What’s more, the officer requested over the radio for additional assistance to respond, saying the man wouldn’t cooperate and put down a blunt object. About 8 other police officers, as well as a supervisor, responded to the scene.
Police eventually determined the object the man was holding was a tool to pick up trash. The man wasn’t arrested nor ticketed and police left the area after that.
A video of the incident recorded and posted on social media by the man’s housemate shows the conversation between the man and the police.
In the video, the man can be heard saying, “I live here. I am picking up garbage from my (expletive) porch.”
An officer then asked him to “put the object down,” to which the man replied, “don’t (expletive) tell me what to do. I have a right to be doing this.”
The person recording the video can be heard describing the scene, saying there were eight cops with some having their guns drawn or their hands on their weapons. Someone can also be heard saying, “It’s likely you got profiled.”
Meanwhile, the initial responding officer, whose name wouldn’t be released as of the moment, has been placed on paid administrative leave, Boulder police Chief Greg Testa said.
The department has also launched an internal affairs investigation. Boulder police spokeswoman Shannon Aulabaugh said police could not provide further details until the investigation gets completed within 60 to 90 days.
Watch the live footage below: