PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department has found itself in yet another controversy with the local community after a Black man filed a lawsuit alleging officers arrested and threw him in jail for asking questions after he was stopped.
William Kitchen shared his experience with Phoenix PD on the night of the arrest with local news station ABC 15 in a story that aired on Tuesday.
Kitchen has filed a federal lawsuit alleging Phoenix police officers’ conduct is part of history of practicing racial discrimination and violating a person’s freedom of speech, ABC 15 reported.
Kitchen was stopped and placed in handcuffs on Feb. 6, 2024 after walking to a bus stop. Phoenix police alleged Kitchen crossed a street and obstructed their thoroughfare operation being conducted in the area. After Kitchen was released from handcuffs and began asking a sergeant on duty why he was handcuffed, the sergeant accused Kitchen of obstruction and had him arrested.
Kitchen said he spent the night in jail and months fighting a citation.
The lawsuit also alleges that Kitchen was stopped by Phoenix police and cited “under false pretenses,” ABC 15 reported.
The officers actions and behavior that night have been called into question. In police bodycam video of the incident, officers could be heard referring to Black men as “homeboy,” and one officer saying a man looked like “DJ Jazzy Jeff.”
More on the lawsuit and racial discrimination allegations against Phoenix PD.
