The American Civil Liberties of Kansas has asked for a state investigation after Karle Robinson was held as he moved into his house in Tonganoxie last August. He was subjected to ‘a campaign of surveillance and harassment’, the ACLU says. Robinson says the police chief then stopped him filing a racial bias complaint. Police Chief Greg Lawson says ‘we believe that the ACLU’s correspondence to the Attorney General’s Office contains multiple accusations that are inaccurate’
Black Kansas military veteran, 61, who was handcuffed ‘at gunpoint’ by cops as he moved into his OWN home ‘was then harassed by police chief when he tried to file a racial bias complaint’
- Karle Robinson was held as he moved into his house in Tonganoxie last August
- The American Civil Liberties of Kansas has asked for a state investigation
- He was subjected to ‘a campaign of surveillance and harassment’, ACLU says
- Robinson says the police chief then stopped him filing a racial bias complaint
- Police Chief Greg Lawson says ‘we believe that the ACLU’s correspondence to the Attorney General’s Office contains multiple accusations that are inaccurate’
The black man handcuffed by cops as he moved into his own home was allegedly then harassed by a police chief when he tried to file a racial bias complaint.
The American Civil Liberties of Kansas say military veteran Karle Robinson was held at gunpoint as he moved into the house he had purchased in Tonganoxie.
Robinson says he was harassed by law enforcement officials and that Tonganoxie’s police chief stopped him from filing a racial bias complaint.
The ACLU are now calling for a state investigation into the incident.
Police Chief Greg Lawson says he had not seen the ACLU’s allegations and would comment later.
But the ACLU alleges a pervasive culture of racial bias exists in the Tonganoxie Police Department.
The organization asked Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to investigate or refer the group’s complaint to the Kansas Commission on Officers Standards and Training.
The American Civil Liberties of Kansas has asked for a state investigation after Karle Robinson was detained by local police while moving into his own home. The ACLU said Thursday that Karle Robinson was held at gunpoint and handcuffed as he moved into a home he had purchased in Tonganoxie
Police bodycam footage shows Robinson cuffed and questioned on his own front lawn for looking suspicious while moving a television into new home in August last year
In a letter they say Robinson was subjected to ‘a campaign of surveillance and harassment’ by police that only stopped when his story was made public.
When he tried to file a complaint Chief Lawson stopped him, according the ACLU. Police also followed him, parked in front of his home or drove past it daily, Robinson says.
‘Each of these incidents would be concerning had they been alleged independently,’ the ACLU’s letter says. ‘Together, they suggest a pervasive culture of racial bias and systemic process failure within the Tonganoxie Police Department.’
Lauren Bonds, the interim Executive Director and Legal Director of the state ACLU, added: ‘Mr. Robinson believes his detention was motivated by his race rather than reasonable suspicion that he was committing burglary.
Robinson says police harassed him and that Tonganoxie’s police chief stopped him from filing a racial bias complaint
‘It also appears that the Chief of Police prevented Mr. Robinson from filing a credible, legitimate complaint and that is not in compliance with reporting and intake standards. He must not interfere with citizens registering complaints.’
Robinson was detained by police on his front lawn on August 19 last year after he was seen moving a wide-screen television into his home.
Police bodycam footage shows he was approached by a Tonganoxie police officer who believed that he was a burglar.
Chief Greg Lawson told DailyMail.com: The safety of our citizens and visitors continues to be of the highest importance to the Tonganoxie Police Department.
‘The members of this agency have pledged to serve the community with honor, and the highest degree of professionalism. All officers are State Certified and trained to respond to criminal and emergency incidents.
‘We have fully cooperated with Mr. Robinson and the ACLU regarding inquiries into this matter. We believe that the ACLU’s correspondence to the Attorney General’s Office contains multiple accusations that are inaccurate.
‘If an investigation is deemed warranted, we intend to fully cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office or the Commission on Police Officers’ Standards and Training (CPOST).’