An Alabama woman was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed inside a Waffle House over plastic utensils.
Chikesia Clemons, 25, and her friend Canita Adams placed an order at a Waffle House in Mobile, Alabama April 22, according to The Root. When Clemons asked for utensils an employee told her that she’d be charged 50 cents in addition to what they were paying.
Clemons and Adams began to ask the employee why they were being charged for utensils when they weren’t charged the night before. At that, the employee canceled the order and Clemons asked for information to contact the district manager for that Waffle House.
As they waited for the district manager information, cops entered the store. On a video, a white police officer can be seen dragging Clemons from her seat to the floor as he sat on top of her.
“They didn’t even ask her to leave, she was waiting for them to give her the district manager’s card so she could file a complaint on one of the waitresses,” said Chiquitta Clemons-Howard, Clemons mother. “When they went to go get the card, that’s when the police showed up. The officer should’ve come in and said, ‘We need you to leave.’”
During the scuffle, both Clemons and Adams can be heard asking the cops what Clemons did.
“What are you doing,” asked Clemons. One officer replied, “I’ll break your arm, that’s what I’m about to do.”
Clemons was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Her mother paid a $1,000 bond to get her out of jail.
David Smith, president of the NAACP in Mobile, Alabama released a statement detailing that they would be collecting information especially since the Philadelphia Starbucks incident resulting in the arrest of two innocent Black men.
“In light of the current situation in our country—such as the arrest of two young black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks coffee shop—we felt it was important for our members to get a firsthand account of the incident, which has now gone viral on social media locally and across the country,” explained Smith.
A spokesperson for the Saraland Police Department explained in a statement that an investigation of the incident would be done.
“The Saraland Police Department is aware of the arrest at Waffle House and the accompanying video on social media,” according to the department statement. “The situation is being thoroughly reviewed and is under active investigation right now. Our department strives for transparency and we encourage our community to be aware of current events.”
Waffle House released a statement released a statement saying that it was, “till obtaining and reviewing information.” Pat Warner a spokesperson for the company emailed a statement.
It read, “It’s fair to say that the information we have received at this point differs significantly from what has reportedly been attributed to Ms. Clemons and strongly supports the actions taken by the Saraland Police Department.”
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(Source: The Root)
(Photo Credit: ThinkStock Image)
