Prominent Little Rock activist says encounter with officers shows police deficient

Benny Johnson (sitting, left), founder and president of Arkansas Stop the Violence, and supporters Richard Anderson (top left) and Earnest Franklin, discuss an incident with police Monday night that has Johnson calling for the resignation of Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Buckner and City Manager Bruce Moore.
Benny Johnson (sitting, left), founder and president of Arkansas Stop the Violence, and supporters Richard Anderson (top left) and Earnest Franklin, discuss an incident with police Monday night that has Johnson calling for the resignation of Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Buckner and City Manager Bruce Moore.

A prominent Little Rock anti-violence activist said a confrontation with Little Rock police at his home this week underscores racial-bias and training problems facing the department.

Benny Johnson, founder and president of Arkansas Stop the Violence, said he does not plan to file a complaint with police over the encounter, though he characterized officers who were called to his apartment complex Monday night as aggressive and irrational.

Johnson called 911 to report gunfire at the complex, but officers ended up breaking down the front door of his apartment building and searching his apartment with their guns drawn.

Police said the officers believed they had seen Johnson standing in the window holding a gun to his head. He was actually on the phone speaking to his landlord.

It's one of the few things that Johnson and police agree on about the encounter.

Johnson, speaking to reporters at a news conference Thursday, said that officers acted recklessly and made him fear he would become a "statistic," referring to black men killed by police.

The Police Department, on the other hand, said the officers' actions showed a deep concern for Johnson's safety. Police Chief Kenton Buckner, who is black, said the officers were rushing to reach someone who appeared suicidal.

"If that's what we think we saw," Buckner said, "don't you expect us to do something?"

The misunderstanding has fractured the department's relationship with one of its longtime allies in the fight against crime in Little Rock, so much so that Johnson called for Buckner and City Manager Bruce Moore, who hired Buckner, to be fired.

Johnson, speaking alongside other activists and community leaders Thursday, bristled at the department's handling of the situation. He said the encounter reflects a pattern of police mistreatment of black people, even those in positions of community leadership.

Johnson recalled the arrest last year of state Rep. John Walker, D-Little Rock, who was charged with obstructing governmental operations after he refused to leave a traffic stop he was filming. Police dropped the charge against Walker and apologized.

Johnson also said the encounter raised officer training questions, noting that police shot a black man last month after mistaking his cellphone for a gun. Police said the man, a domestic-battery suspect, emerged from a dark area and pointed his phone at officers as if it was a pistol.

"I'm telling you, I'm not going to let this go," Johnson said Thursday, slamming his fist on a table. "Because I could've been a statistic. I haven't been able to sleep. I've got bags under my eyes. I'm not going to take this lightly. ... I've never been this upset in my life."

Johnson said he will not file a complaint with Little Rock police because it won't be investigated fairly unless someone from outside the department is involved. He said he's spoken to an attorney about the encounter, but declined to comment further.

Johnson called 911 and reported gunfire about 10:30 p.m. Monday at Pine Garden Apartments at 6414 Baseline Road, leading officers to search the complex, police reported. Officers reportedly saw Johnson through his window, broke through the front door of his building and went upstairs to his apartment.

Johnson, 55, said that officers pounded on his door and demanded to be let inside, even after he told them that he was the person who had reported the gunfire. Johnson said he opened the door and one of the officers, with his gun drawn, asked if he could "clear" the apartment.

Johnson said he was upset but told the officer yes.

Johnson said he became more upset when another officer asked why he didn't go outside to meet them, even though there had been gunfire in the area. Johnson decided he did not want the officers in his home and demanded they leave.

"I just want to say, I see why a lot of law-abiding citizens don't want to call the police now," Johnson said. "They end up a victim."

Buckner said he understands why the encounter might have made Johnson uncomfortable. He said he was regretful that it might sow distrust toward the department. But Buckner emphasized that Johnson gave police consent to search his apartment, and said officers did not break any laws or violate any department regulations.

"I think that a reasonable person would look at this in the totality of circumstances," Buckner said. "We're sorry that he was offended by that. That wasn't our intent. But I also don't think that our officers did anything wrong."

State Rep. Fred Allen, D-Little Rock, was among those who spoke in support of Johnson on Thursday. He also called on police and city leaders to work toward improving relations with the black community.

"I think it's so important that we start to work together to bridge that gap in that community," he said.

Metro on 10/06/2017

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