Controversy After Police Officers Stop 5 Black Teens At Gunpoint

Grand Rapids, MI - A Grand Rapids city commissioner called a meeting with the police chief after five African American preteen and teenage boys were stopped at gunpoint by police while they were walking down the street on the city's south side.

Third Ward Commissioner Senita Lenear met with Chief David Rahinsky Tuesday regarding the incident -- and three mothers of the boys spoke before the City Commission during public comment to bring it to their attention.

"I will remain in touch with the mother and the chief until this issue is resolved for the children involved," Lenear said.

The five boys -- ages 12 to 14 -- had just left the Salvation Army Kroc Center at 2500 S. Division Ave. Friday, March 24, where they had been playing basketball.

About 7:09 p.m. Friday, police received a 911 call that "100 teenagers" were fighting on the outdoor basketball court at the Kroc, Dixon said. The caller didn't see any weapons, Sgt. Terry Dixon said.

When officers arrived, they didn't find a fight, Dixon said.

An officer saw about 20 people playing basketball, and saw a large group of people walking away, Dixon said.

But one of the responding officers was waved down by a person in the 100 block of Alger Street, who said a group of younger, black male teens -- one wearing red, and one wearing all black with a black backpack -- had just walked by, Dixon said.

The witness told the officer the teen wearing all black had just dropped a revolver handgun and had picked it back up, Dixon said.

"We had information that there was a gun involved," Dixon said. "If we have a report of a gun, that's a high-risk incident."

As the police canvassed the neighborhood, they found a group of five black boys on Francis Street just south of Melville Street. Two of them were wearing red, two were wearing black and one was wearing green, Dixon said.

An officer stopped the boys, and ordered them down to the ground with his gun drawn, Dixon said. The officer had his gun drawn because they were investigating a gun report and were treating the incident as high-risk, Dixon said.

"It only takes a half of a second to pull a gun out of the waistband and to point it at someone," Dixon said.

More than five additional police officers responded. Reading the police reports of the incident, Dixon said it was not clear to him if other officers drew their weapons.

The boys -- who complied the whole time -- were ordered to walk backward to the police with their hands behind their head. They were searched, handcuffed and put into the back of police cruisers.

And then the police realized that these five boys were not the teens they were looking for. They didn't have a gun.

Dixon said the boys were allowed to call their parents, and were released to them.

Dixon said he has reviewed some of the body camera footage - all of which is being reviewed by the department - and said he felt the officers did what they needed to do to maintain the safety of officers and the public.

"You never want to hear that your son was at gunpoint today," Dixon said.