Weeks ago when I heard the news about police handcuffing a Black man for no reason… Well, apparently for stealing a car, his own car. I had an immediate response. No! I had to listen to the next local newscast to learn of the police misadventure of another Black who was handcuffed by police for apparently “stealing a car…” just outside a popular big brand local fast food eatery.
Local television and other news sources for the rest of the night put the incident into perspective.
What a relief was the other thing that came to mind, and we began to hear the full story. A Black man was indeed hand-cuffed and detained for driving a certain model, popular with car thieves.
But what a relief no shots were fired by anyone in the vicinity, not the alleged car thief, the police at the scene, or onlookers. Yes, the police were the only armed ones in the vicinity, but their tools were well concealed.
Onlookers didn’t even see any police firearms. Good thing! Who’s to tell what might’ve happened had the alleged car thief (sic!) Had been armed in the process of going about his business at the time.
The only activity or sound was the falsely accused man and real victim of the car theft who was busily trying to convince the police officers to listen to his innocent pleas. That the stolen car is not, just his honest property.
All he wanted was the policeman to whom he was tethered to listen and believe him.
Futility… and frustration… in their multiple roles
When Mr. Dossa become more seasoned in police workings in this part of the world, he will eventually learn that “cries and tears are not enough.”
Pay attention, keep your eyes open, and as the saying goes “watch your back … If you’re tainted stay out of their way and keep walking straight, erect and forward.
If you can, and when necessary, consult a lawyer.
Meanwhile, don’t be afraid of the police, as you did on that recent occasion, just listen to international reggae icon, star, human being, however described… And if you’re an immigrant: “Stand up for your Rights…”
That television news footage of you fighting for ownership of your car, is evidence that you’re no pushover, notwithstanding the fact that the police are always well protected when doing the job of “protecting and serving” the people.
As long as you’re proficient in one or both of the official languages, and know the laws, your rights and what not, good luck going on with your life.
And as you stated online, you’re afraid of the police? “Don’t…”
They too have rules they have to abide by and must adhere to. Just like all the rest of us.
I for one never believed that myth, lie, whatever…
No doubt news watchers were anxious to see the local news later that evening and night for more details about the incident. Images of a handcuffed Black male under the control of a couple plain clothes policemen, one of whom had a firm grasp on the alleged culprits’s elbow. The man was suspected of stealing a car.
For his part, the “suspect” was pleading his innocence, that the car in question is his, “my car, not a stolen…” he protested and that he could show the officer the legitimate papers for the vehicle.
But the officer clutching his elbow wasn’t having any of it… pleas of innocence, plaintive…
Yes, the handcuffed man was pissed as we see throughout the tv news story as he tried, unsuccessfully to convince the officers that the car is his.
A video of a handcuffed Dossa circulated widely on social media, prompting outrage from activists, elected officials and the Montreal community.
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the truth, doing what some people refer to as “speaking truth to power” without being seemingly offensive in the process of explaining the issue or subject in question.
In the interim certain words that might be germane to the matter will remain unspoken. But as conversations go, and given certain circumstances it’s often easier to offer a “mea culpa” and simply get on with life…
Based on the television images we all saw of Brice Dossa while in police custody that evening, he appeared to be a calm, patient, good-natured, cooperative and reasoned person.
Good thing he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong, committed any infraction, and continued to act as such. Who knows what might’ve happened had he ‘gone off’ with a literal tirade on those policemen, protesting his innocence, honesty and other positive characteristics.
Here’s hoping the police won’t have another occasion anytime soon to interact with Mr. Dossa or other Black male under similar or different circumstances where officers, especially like the one who refused to release his elbow, is not in a mood for trifling…
I don’t know the person Brice Dossa, but he has an interesting name, and his real life drama was convincing because the characters were real and convincing: Montreal police vs Black male.
All I can say is life’s added drama of being a Black male and still living… or trying to live a normal, everyday life without unexpected potential movie scenes.
BRICE DOSSA’S INNOCENT STOLEN CAR CAPER
