The same day Dennis McKinley claimed he was racially profiled while in the cafeteria of an Emory Healthcare facility, the hospital’s police department issued a response. But Porsha Williams‘ ex-fiancé is not having it.
McKinley visited the health care system Friday for a routine checkup when he said he was “accosted by a super aggressive Emory police officer” who he said was standing in line behind him at the register. According to The Orignal Hot Dog Factory owner, the officer “racially profiled me and falsely accused me of stealing a $4 sandwich.”
He accompanied the post with video footage of him appearing to sit in handcuffs as he insists he did nothing wrong.
“She chose aggression over common sense,” he said. “She put her hands on her weapon, she put her hands on me, she publicly humiliated me, falsely and wrongfully accused me of stealing a sandwich and placed me in handcuffs so tight that she caused injuries to both of my wrists.”
The post also included photos of his injuries. McKinley said the officer, who is heard telling him he “escalated” the situation on video, was “ready to shoot me!”
He claimed law enforcement refused to let him file a complaint and he’s since lawyered up with Michael Sterling, the husband of Williams’ “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” co-star Eva Marcille.
In response to McKinley’s claim, however, Emory Police Department confirmed to UsWeekly that an officer “detained an individual suspected of not paying for an item. Once the officer learned the individual had purchased it, he was released.”
Sterling, however, said that the department’s response is “clearly the response of privilege.”
“The privilege of someone completely out of touch with the reality of what that harrowing experience was like for Dennis,” the statement McKinley shared on his Instagram page continued. “It is a response that does not recognize the pain and anguish of being profiled, despite your personal accomplishments and standing in society; they don’t understand what it’s like to be viewed as a criminal for no reason at all, except how you look; they don’t understand what it’s like to falsely accused of something you did not do; publicly humiliated for no reason at all; handcuffed like a criminal; detained without provocation; and completely frightened to death that you could be shot by an overly aggressive police officer over a $4 sandwich. Are you kidding me, Emory. This type of indifference by Emory just made the experience all the more painful. This is shameful.”
Followers of the Atlanta-based restaurant and lounge owner lent their support in the comments section.
“Wow. Stay encouraged.”
“Sad AF 😡”
“Wow!! Keep fighting Dennis!”
