Pastor Michael Jennings of Vision of Abundant Life Ministries in Childersburg, Alabama, says he was targeted by police while kindly watering his neighbor's flowers at their request while they were out of town.
Body camera footage has been released -- and you can see it here although note it contains strong language. The video demonstrates another resident in the neighborhood coming to Jennings' defense while he's being handcuffed.
Police say they were responding to a call about a suspicious car in the neighborhood.
First, Jennings tells police they're racially profiling him, explaining that he lives across the street and is helping a neighbor. “We’re not racially profiling you,” the unidentified officer responded.
“Yes, you did,” replied Jennings.
“No sir, no sir,” the arresting officer rebutted. “We’re not about that okay?”
“I told you I was here watering flowers,” Jennings responded.
“How do we know that’s the truth,” the officer asked.
“I had the water hose in my hand! I was watering the flowers,” Jennings says, laughing.
Jennings was initially taken into custody and charged with obstruction. Childsbeurg Police Chief Richard B. McClelland eventually dropped the charges following an investigation, but the pastor says the damage had already been done.
Harry Daniels, Jennings' attorney, elaborated on the emotional toll of this incident, revealing his client feared for his life.
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“These cases put law enforcement on notice and the country on notice that these types of interactions — thank God that Pastor Jennings had a cool head. He didn’t get aggressive or defensive in a sense, and he complied when the officers grabbed him. But Brittany, it could’ve went a different way. Pastor Jennings could very well not be here today,” his attorney said.