Phoenix police did not appreciate a Black man questioning their authority as to why they had handcuffed him for simply crossing a street to
Phoenix police did not appreciate a Black man questioning their authority as to why they had handcuffed him for simply crossing a street to catch a bus – especially considering they had already removed the handcuffs and told him he was free to go.
But William Kitchen knew he had committed no crime, so he asked the arresting officers exactly what law he had broken to have been handcuffed in the first place.
He also mentioned he needed the information to pass along to attorneys, suggesting he may file a lawsuit over what he believed was an unlawful detainment. And he asked for names and badge numbers.
That is when the cops decided to re-arrest him, placing him in handcuffs and transporting him to jail where he spent the night on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a thoroughfare.