Dennis McKinley Details Being Detained by a Police Officer After He Was "Falsely and Wrongfully Accused of Stealing a Sandwich"
The RHOA dad added that he's since "retained counsel" with Eva Marcille's husband, Michael T. Sterling.
Dennis McKinley took to Instagram this weekend to open up about being handcuffed after he was "falsely and wrongfully accused of stealing a sandwich." The Real Housewives of Atlanta dad recalled the experience in great detail, also noting that in the aftermath he has retained counsel with Eva Marcille's husband, attorney Michael T. Sterling.
Dennis, who welcomed a daughter, Pilar Jhena McKinley, with Porsha Williams this past spring, then recalled being "accosted by a super aggressive" female police officer “who racially profiled me and falsely accused me of stealing a $4 sandwich. I had a receipt which could have easily ended her inquiry. There was a cashier that could have easily verified that I paid for everything I had."
He continued, "There were a number of easy resolutions that could have deescalated the unnecessary racial profiling and my detention by this officer. Instead, this Emory police officer chose to abuse her power. She chose aggression over common sense. 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. I was profiled. She was wrong. No apology. Just more vitriol - she blamed me for the entire situation. It was disgusting. I could have been the next hashtag because she was that aggressive. I went to see my doctor for a routine [doctor] visit at Emory hospital. Stopped to grab a sandwich. And this is what happened. It happens to us everywhere, at any time, for any reason. I can’t let this go. This is not ok... Now, we can add going to the doctor or buying a sandwich while black to the list of things we cannot do."
According to Us Weekly, his attorney commented on the post, which also features video, writing, “If no one objects or fights back, the wrongs will last forever.”
Reps for both the Emory Police Department and Dennis also spoke out on the events. A rep for the police department said in a statement, “An Emory Police Department officer detained an individual suspected of not paying for an item. Once the officer learned the individual had purchased it, he was released.”
Dennis' rep said in a statement, “Emory’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. 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.”
Dennis also commented on the police's response on Instagram:
