The Phoenix Police Division has opened an inside investigation into the detainment of a Wall Road Journal reporter who was conducting interviews exterior a Chase Financial institution in November.
The reporter, Dion Rabouin, who’s Black, was reporting exterior the financial institution when he was handcuffed and positioned in a police car, The Wall Road Journal stated in an announcement.
Rabouin’s detainment occurred Nov. 23 however gained widespread consideration after the tv station ABC15 reported on the episode Wednesday.
Footage taken by a bystander reveals Rabouin being handcuffed and sitting inside a police car. An officer will be heard telling him, “I’m not supplying you with any extra possibilities.” Rabouin is heard responding, “You’re not giving me any possibilities for what? I haven’t executed something fallacious.”
In an announcement, the Police Division stated that it had opened an “administrative investigation” after receiving a letter from the editor-in-chief of the Journal, which, police stated, expressed issues concerning the “interplay” between Rabouin and one in every of their officers.
“Financial institution personnel contacted police after they acquired buyer complaints {that a} man was approaching folks as they entered the financial institution asking them private questions,” the division stated. It added that the interplay between Rabouin and the police officer happened on personal property.
As soon as the investigation is full, it is going to be made public, the division stated. Rabouin was not charged.
The incident comes amid a sweeping federal investigation into the conduct of the Phoenix Police Division and whether or not it engaged in discriminatory and abusive practices and used extreme pressure.
The Journal stated it was “deeply involved” on the therapy of Rabouin, who is predicated in New York and covers finance.
Rabouin didn’t instantly reply to requests for an interview Sunday however has acknowledged the incident on Twitter.
“Issues actually escalated shortly,” Rabouin stated in an interview with ABC15.
He stated that he had been standing on the sidewalk subsequent to the constructing when financial institution staff got here exterior to ask what he was doing. Rabouin advised ABC15 that he had recognized himself as a journalist and that nobody had requested him to go away.
Shortly after, Rabouin stated, a police officer confirmed up. He stated he had supplied to go away however the officer grabbed him and advised him, “This may get unhealthy for you should you don’t comply.”
