Decatur, Alabama: Armed, black business owner Kevin Penn mistaken for robber, punched by white Alabama cop Justin Rippen

[Democide]

Armed, black business owner mistaken for robber, punched by white Alabama cop

9 June 2020

A black business owner armed with a gun was mistaken for a robbery suspect when a police officer punched him in the face, Decatur police Chief Nate Allen said today. The situation happened nearly three months ago on March 15 but has become public now because of a surveillance video clip released on social media over the weekend. The video shows a police officer walk into Star Spirits & Beverages, a liquor store on Sixth Avenue in Decatur in north Alabama, and immediately punch the owner, 47-year-old Kevin Penn. Penn says he called police that day to report his store ...

Decatur police officer punches liquor store owner who reported robbery

Police accused the owner of obstructing their investigation, but the man's lawyer says he was holding the robber at gunpoint.

www.al.com

 

[Democide]

Opinion | Black store owner calls police to report a robbery. They show up, punch and arrest him

9 June 2020

Mistaken identity. That’s how Decatur Police Chief Nate Allen described an incident in which DPD officers punched, wrestled to the ground and ultimately arrested a Decatur store owner who had called them to report a robbery. The store owner was a black man. So, yeah, mistaken identity. The incident occurred back in March, but it caused an uproar on Monday after video of the incident was posted on social media on Sunday. In the current national climate, in which police departments are facing increased scrutiny for their mistreatment of black citizens, the video drew thousands of angry comments. By Monday ...

Opinion | Black store owner calls police to report a robbery. They show up, punch and arrest him

Mistaken identity. That’s how Decatur Police Chief Nate Allen described an incident in which DPD officers punched, wrestled to the ground and ultimately arrested a Decatur store owner who had called them to report a robbery. The store owner was a black man. So, yeah, mistaken identity. Sign...

www.alreporter.com

 

[Democide]

Black liquor store owner sues cops after he called 911 to say he was holding a shoplifter at gunpoint only for white officer who arrived to punch him in the face, wrestle him to the ground and cuff him instead

• Kevin Penn called cops in March 2020 and reported he was holding a shoplifter
• Officers arrived and bodycam footage shows them walking past the suspect
• They entered the shop where an officer punched Mr Penn before he was arrested
• Mr Penn suffered a broken jaw and is now suing police for using 'excessive force'

20 March 2022

A black liquor store owner is suing a white police officer who punched him in the face, wrestled him to the ground and cuffed him after he called cops about holding a suspected shoplifter at gunpoint. Body camera footage showed officers walking past the suspect and ordering Kevin Penn to put down his weapon before an officer punches him and two others pin him to the ground and arrest him. Mr Penn, who suffered a broken jaw, had his teeth knocked out and needed to get his mouth wired shut after the altercation on March 15, 2020, is now suing ...

Black store owner sues cops who punched him after he called police

Body camera footage showed officers walking past the suspect and ordering Kevin Penn to put down his weapon before an officer punches him and two others pin him to the ground and arrest him.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Democide]

Black store owner reports robbery, gets punched by officer

21 March 2022

An Alabama liquor store owner has sued after a police officer responding to a robbery call at his store punched him in the face and broke his jaw in March 2020. The Decatur Daily reports that Kevin Penn sued the city of Decatur and police officer Justin Rippen on March 11 in federal court. Penn is Black and Rippen is white. The suit alleges the incident is an example of systematic use of “excessive force” by the Decatur Police Department that the city often ignores. The lawsuit alleges Penn’s constitutional rights were violated by illegal seizure, false arrest and excessive ...

Black store owner reports robbery, gets punched by officer

An Alabama liquor store owner has sued after a police officer responding to a robbery call at his store punched him in the face and broke his jaw in March 2020.

www.wbrz.com