Battle Creek police officers forcibly detained and handcuffed a Black Michigan teenager walking past a local Arby’s on Sunday, June 14, triggering intense community outrage and immediate accusations of racial profiling from the youth’s family.
The incident escalated rapidly when an officer pulled over along the road to confront 16-year-old Jeremiah Spearman as he walked home. Body camera footage released by the department shows the primary officer shouting commands at the teenager, who initially continued walking down the sidewalk.
“What am I being detained for? I’m walking home,” Spearman said in the footage before being ordered to place his hands behind his back. The teenager repeatedly called for bystanders to contact his mother as three officers converged to apply handcuffs…