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Was police stop coincidence or pay back



Was a Seattle police stop of two African American men in February just a coincidence or, as some are suggesting, "retaliation" for the publicity surrounding a previous stop.

The NAACP says it wants answers from Seattle Police.

In February of this year, KOMO-TV aired a report about the arrest of Josh Lawson and Christopher Franklin, both in their 20's, as alleged suspects in an assault. They were booked, but then released and charges were never filed. On dashboard camera video, obtained through a public records request, you can hear a police officer telling Franklin he can just "make up charges."

Lawson and are now represented by attorneys who have notified the city of Seattle that they plan to sue.

Just a week after the KOMO-TV story went viral and the notice of suit was filed, Lawson and Franklin were again stopped by Seattle police.

At a news conference in Seattle, Josh described the late night stop. He says he was looking in his rearview mirror and saw a line of police cars with lights flashing. He pulled over. He says he and his friends were held at gunpoint and their car was searched.

"It was unreal. It was frightening to know that that force with all those guns were around me. I could barely think. I had butterflies that lasted longer than it should last in any man," he said.

James Bible, attorney and former NAACP President a, says he sees this sort of thing happen to young black men all the time, noting that Lawson and Franklin were released following the stop and search.

"There was no ticket issued, no infraction, no charge, it was just harassment and humiliation," he said.

The difference in this case, says Bible, is that these two men had just been featured in a high profile story about police misconduct.

"It's either a horrible coincidence or a horrible retaliation," he said.

Attorneys for Lawson and Franklin are seeking the dashboard camera video from the latest police stop, which happened on February 19. They say the city of Seattle has continually put them off saying they need more time to retrieve the material.

Sean Whitcomb, Seattle Police spokesman, declined to comment on the NAACP press conference because of the claim filed against the city.

Had enough?  Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into the police problem in America.  Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent  DOJ office on Police Misconduct.