Posted on Sep 1, 2022
Watering flowers while Black: A pastor shares his story of wrongful arrest
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https://www.npr.org/2022/09/01/ [login to see] /pastor-arrested-watering-flowers-alabama
When Michael Jennings went over to his out-of-town neighbors' house to water their plants, he thought he was just doing a simple, straightforward act of kindness.
But when Jennings, 56, saw that officers from Alabama's Childersburg Police Department had arrived, he knew that the situation would take a turn.
"When they first pulled up, I already knew that it was gonna be something," Jennings said in an interview with NPR.
A longtime pastor at Vision of Abundant Life Church in Sylacauga, Ala., Jennings recalls that, when the police arrived at his neighbors' house, he immediately noticed the officers' behavior.
"[The officer] parked around back and walked around front. And immediately, you could tell by the tone of his voice I was already guilty," he said.
When Michael Jennings went over to his out-of-town neighbors' house to water their plants, he thought he was just doing a simple, straightforward act of kindness.
But when Jennings, 56, saw that officers from Alabama's Childersburg Police Department had arrived, he knew that the situation would take a turn.
"When they first pulled up, I already knew that it was gonna be something," Jennings said in an interview with NPR.
A longtime pastor at Vision of Abundant Life Church in Sylacauga, Ala., Jennings recalls that, when the police arrived at his neighbors' house, he immediately noticed the officers' behavior.
"[The officer] parked around back and walked around front. And immediately, you could tell by the tone of his voice I was already guilty," he said.
Watering flowers while Black: A pastor shares his story of wrongful arrest
Posted from npr.org
Sylacauga
Police
Law Enforcement
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Our goal is obviously, justice for [Mr. Jennings] and the situation," said Bethaney Embry Jones, one of the attorneys representing Jennings, in an interview with NPR.
"Because he's a pastor, he has a congregation, he has a following and he has a name. And in this situation, his name was ruined," she added.
Alabama law states that any officer "may stop any person abroad in a public place" if they suspect that the person is committing or has committed a felony or another public offense — and can demand the person's name, address and an explanation of their actions.
However, attorneys for Jennings said in their statement that "Alabama's Stop and Identify Law did not require Pastor Jennings ... to identify himself because he was not in a public place."
..."Our goal is obviously, justice for [Mr. Jennings] and the situation," said Bethaney Embry Jones, one of the attorneys representing Jennings, in an interview with NPR.
"Because he's a pastor, he has a congregation, he has a following and he has a name. And in this situation, his name was ruined," she added.
Alabama law states that any officer "may stop any person abroad in a public place" if they suspect that the person is committing or has committed a felony or another public offense — and can demand the person's name, address and an explanation of their actions.
However, attorneys for Jennings said in their statement that "Alabama's Stop and Identify Law did not require Pastor Jennings ... to identify himself because he was not in a public place."
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