A white Arkansas cop has been fired after a video of him telling some black men that they ‘don’t belong in his city’ went viral on the internet.
Officer Michael Moore from the England police department was fired after the video of his confrontation with the black youths surfaced online.
Demarcus Bunch claims that he and his cousin, Shannon Scribner, were shooting a music video in his hometown when they were confronted by the police officer on July 21.
Moore can be heard saying that the men are not from his city, although they tell him that their uncle is a police officer in the same force.
According to WFMY, when Bunch and his cousin entered the town, Officer Michael Moore started following them everywhere they go.
‘I was wondering, ‘Why is he doing this,’’ Bunch said. ‘We’re in small England. Everybody knows everybody.’
As the silent chase continued, the group of men finally decided to go to him and ask why they were being followed everywhere.
Bunch, whose uncle also serves in England police, said: ‘We are Dale Scribner’s nephews.’
However, Moore dismisses the name and when he was asked the reason for following them, he bluntly states, ‘You know why? Because you don’t belong in my city.’
Bunch then proceeds to explain that he is from the same city, but the officer dismisses his claim.
Moore then goes onto say: ‘But you understand, I know who my people are, right, who belongs here and who doesn’t? We’ve got gang wars going on, we’ve got all kinds of stuff. I come from the big city where this stuff is small, okay? So, that’s cool. Do your thing.’
Moore continues arguing and the exchange between the two parties goes on until the police officer threatens them that he would take his dog out of the car if the men do not move away from there.
Moore is then reported to have stayed in the area for a few more minutes, bringing his K-9 out of the car for a short while.
The two cousins, after consulting with their uncle, decided to report the incident to England police chief, Danna Powell.
After they had submitted the video, Scribner told media: ‘We wanted to give the chief the opportunity to perform her investigation, so we held the video close to our chest and waited for her to provide a response.’
Bunch released the video online on Tuesday when he claimed that he had not heard from the police regarding the incident.
However, following the massive criticism from the online as well as local community, Officer Michael Moore was fired from the department. Many people from the community feel that his firing was both correct and justified in the wake of the incident.
Pastor David Drayer of Word of Faith Christian Church said: ‘The guy that he was harassing, I know the fella.
‘He grew up here all his life. And he’s saying this is my town and get out of my city. It’s not his city, you know.
‘He come in already, you know, with the wrong kind of attitude. Because where there is unity there is strength, and that is the last thing we need.’