Student’s arrest ‘called into question’ because cops ‘followed Black man’

The arrest of a Santa Barbara City College student is being “called into question” by several witnesses who recorded the interaction.

Police say they encountered 19-year-old Lawrence Omolo carrying an open (liquor) container, who then became “uncooperative” and “fled on foot.”

According to the Daily Nexus, police soon discovered Omolo was also carrying a nine-inch dagger. He ended up being charged for that, resisting arrest, and carrying an open container in public and possession by a minor.

However, sixth-year(!) UC Santa Barbara student Michael Kile had a different take on the incident. He said he and some friends were walking along the street when they came upon a “cop following a civilian.”

“I saw a white cop following a Black man and the body language showed that the victim was just wanting to get away and that the cop was annoyed and angry,” Kile said. He began filming the happenings.

From the story:

In the four and a half minute video recorded by Kile, Omolo can be seen moving his hands away as the officers attempt to cuff him. As officers tell him to stop resisting, Omolo says, “That’s not resisting. Look, all I wanted to do was get my video, then I will sit here and talk to y’all. I’m not doing anything.”

As officers continue to try to put handcuffs on Omolo, one says, “He’s got an axe in his front right pocket.”

Another officer then tells Kile and his companions to back away from the scene. Omolo shouts to them, “No, I want them to video this. Video this!”

Kile and his friends can be heard documenting the number of officers and police vehicles on the scene, which totalled nine and three respectively, according to their count.

When one of Kile’s friends ask why there are nine officers on the scene to arrest one man, the officer responds, “Because the person that ran from us has an axe in his front waistband.”

In the video, Kile can be heard repeating the cops’ demand that Omolo stop resisting, then adding “he’s [Omolo] just standing there.” He also complains about the “twenty fucking [police] cars” that showed up, and when told by a cop that there are nine officers present because Omolo had “an ax” on him, Kile responds “that’s some bullshit.”

Kile eventually says he’s “uploading to the ACLU,” presumably referring to his video.