Police pepper spray black teen in his own living room after he's mistaken for a burglar
A black teenager in North Carolina was pepper sprayed in his own living room after being mistaken for a burglar, ABC News affiliate WTVD reports. The teen, 18-year-old DeShawn Currie, was accosted in his home Monday afternoon after a neighbor called the police when he saw Currie enter the home through the side door, suspecting him of being an intruder.
Currie is being fostered by Ricky and Stacy Tyler, a white couple. He has been living with them and their three young sons for roughly a year, but the family had just moved to a new neighborhood in July. Stacy Tyler left the side door open for Currie on Monday afternoon so that he could get into the house after returning home from school. A neighbor saw Currie walk into the home and called to report a break-in.
Three officers arrived on the scene to question Currie, even pointing out pictures of the Tylers and their three white children and asking how Currie fit in. "They come in and just profile me and say that I'm not who I am... because there was white kids on the wall, that made me really mad," Currie said. When he objected, an argument ensued, and that's when one of the officers pepper sprayed him in the face, Currie said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The officers claim Currie became "threatening and belligerent," according to WTVD's report, and that they pepper sprayed him because he neglected to follow instructions. They cited recent criminal activity in the neighborhood as reason for their actions.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
What's behind Trump's last-minute merch push?
Today's Big Question With just weeks to go before the election, Donald Trump is spending the waning days of his campaign hawking a suite of new products, from silver coins to cryptocurrency
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kamala Harris' plan to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy
the explainer Tweaks, rather than sweeping overhauls, characterize the Democratic nominee's proposals
By David Faris Published
-
Rowan Jacobsen's 6 favorite books that explore our relationship with food
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by Harold McGee, Kristin Kimball, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published