A black man who was handcuffed by white police officers after they pointed a gun at a car with young children inside said he has …
A black man who was handcuffed by white police officers after they pointed a gun at a car with young children inside said he has agreed to meet with the Denver police chief this week after the case came to light in the wake of the George Floyd protests.
Naphtali Israel told The Associated Press Tuesday that what happened to him and his family in a grocery store parking lot on May 7 is another example of the injustice that has sparked civil unrest since Floyd’s death in Minneapolis over three weeks ago.
“They constantly try to demonize victims of bad officers to try to justify their standpoint and the world is seeing this and they’re speaking,” Israel said. “They’re tired of it. I’m tired of it. The community is tired of it.”
Denver police said they acted appropriately to a complaint of a black man with a gun.
“The fact that there was reportedly a weapon and it was unknown what that weapon was being used for, I believe it’s reasonable for the officers to be in a position to respond tactically to that threat,» said Division Chief Ron Thomas.
Israel said he didn’t have a gun and his attorney noted it’s not illegal to be black and own a gun.
Israel and attorney David Lane plan to meet with Police Chief Paul M. Pazen on Thursday at the chief’s request.
“I’m optimistic but yet I don’t fully grasp or understand what the chief of police is trying to accomplish,» Israel said, «but I’m definitely open to meeting with him and to hear what he has to say.
