The father of the family that was held at gunpoint by cops after their daughter stole a $1 Barbie doll from a store spoke out and revealed he was afraid for the lives of his family members after officers pointed guns at his pregnant wife who was holding their baby.
The incident occurred when 22-year-old Dravon Ames and 24-year-old Iesha Harper, who is 6 months pregnant, were shopping at a Family Dollar store in Phoenix.
During their visit, the family was accused of stealing and was surrounded by police officers after they exited the store.
As seen in footage taken by a passerby, the cops were screaming at the couple and pointing guns at the pregnant mother who was holding a baby in her arms.
After the incident, the Phoenix police issued a “fake” apology and a 16-page report in which they stated Mr. Ames was accused of stealing underwear among other items.
Hitting back at their claims and launching a $10 million lawsuit, the family rejected the allegations of thievery and claimed the only item that was stolen was a $1 doll which their daughter, 4, allegedly took without their knowledge.
“My family has been through enough. You see in the video the fear,” Ames said. “The sounds of my daughters crying, and you’re asking me about some drawers?
“The police put a gun in my daughter’s face and you’re asking me about some drawers. That’s insensitive, that’s insulting.
“I thought we were all going to be executed. By the grace of God, someone was there to video this.”
Speaking of the public apology the police issued, Ames said:
“It feels like a half apology. The officers are still working. It’s a slap in the face. It’s like putting lemon juice on an open wound. Everyone knows they are not fit to be policing.”
While the Phoenix’s chief of police, Jeri Williams, condemned the behavior of officers involved in the incident, she did explain there are “more facts” that have to be acknowledged when it comes to the investigation.
“Let’s just assume for the sake of argument, everything [written in the police report] was true. It still would not justify what they did,” the family spokesperson said.
“If you stole underwear, does that mean you get to do what they did? Nothing they did justifies what’s on that tape. Our bottom line is nothing justifies it.
“These are unarmed individuals. It’s wrong to do this to anybody and that is the point.”
Defending the family ever since he saw the disturbing footage, Rev. Jarrett Maupin added:
“Even if they stole every damn roll of tin foil, even if they stole 10 packs of underwear and a partridge and a pear tree, it does not justify what we saw on that tape.”
What are your thoughts on this incident? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your friends and family!
Recommended Video!
“White Arkansas Cop Fired After Video Of Him Telling Black Men That They ‘Don’t Belong In His City’ Goes Viral”