Amazon has suspended a delivery driver who was caught on video aiming a racist tirade at a Black tenant after he got locked inside a gated apartment complex in Los Angeles.
Surveillance footage obtained by KTTV shows the driver launching a profanity-ridden rant after he attempted to access a set of apartments in the Cudahy suburb to make a delivery.
After getting stuck at the gate, he followed a tenant who gained access to the property and drove into the complex.
Once he was inside, the gate locked behind him, leaving him stuck with no way out.
Believing he was left stranded, he reportedly saw a Black female tenant he thought was a property manager who could let him out, and started directing racist, violent threats at her.
Surveillance cameras also caught him calling a phone number posted on the property and leaving a threatening and racist voicemail for the complex’s property manager.
The driver was heard saying, “You’re a (expletive), ya hear me? You (expletive). Locking people into the (expletive) gate, you (expletive). I oughta sue your (expletive). You know that’s (expletive) kidnapping. You cannot keep people hostage. You (expletive). Ima find your (expletive), swear to God. You better watch your (expletive) back.”
The property manager, Joel Estrada, stated that after he heard the voicemail, he tried contacting Amazon to file a complaint, but has yet to receive a response.
“Amazon simply does not have an avenue where things like this can be reported in good faith by community residents. They just don’t have an avenue to do so,” Estrada said.
Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope, is now demanding a meeting with an Amazon representative on behalf of the complex’s residents.
“Anytime their drivers are sending racist threats of violence against tenants, it’s unacceptable,” Ali said. “And the fact they have ignored meeting requests, they need to come forward and at least meet with us to hear our concerns.”
Atlanta Black Star reached out to Amazon about the incident. Amazon spokesperson Louie Tran sent the following statement confirming the driver has been suspended from his position as the company investigates the matter:
“The behavior exhibited in this video is unacceptable. We’re looking into this and the delivery partner has been suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation.”
