*Something strange appears to be going on in the case of former LA Lakers forward Matt Barnes who was charged for resisting arrest earlier this week.
The police officer waited in an alley for 2 hours for Barnes to exit a restaurant, and then charged him with felony resisting arrest.
And here’s the strange part. Law enforcement officials told TMZ Barnes never got physically violent with the officer.
Barnes had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear on a ticket for driving on a suspended license. Sources say Barnes had gone to the DMV, gotten his license reinstated, and mistakenly believed he no longer had to go to court to clear the ticket.
Now here’s where it gets strange. Our law enforcement sources say the arresting officer KNEW Barnes had an outstanding warrant as he watched the NBA forward and his baby mama park their car in a lot Monday night — and walk a block-and-a-half to MB Post, a popular restaurant in Manhattan Beach, CA — yet the cop did not approach the hoopster. Instead the officer waited in an alley near the car.
Witnesses say 15 minutes later, Barnes walked back to the vehicle in plain view of the cop. According to witnesses … Barnes got something from the car and returned to the restaurant. Again, the officer watched but did nothing.
Nearly 2 hours later, Barnes and his chick left the restaurant and he signed autographs and posed for pictures as they walked to the car — as they approached the vehicle the cop pounced and told Barnes he was under arrest, but didn’t say why.
We’re told Barnes already had one hand behind his back as he attempted to hand his gf the keys with his other hand so she could drive home. Sources say the cop grabbed the hand with the keys and the Lakers champ pulled away. The cop then immediately informed Barnes he would be charged with resisting arrest.
A police official for the dept. initially claimed the basis for the resisting arrest charge was a verbal threat allegedly made by Barnes, but we’ve learned the charge will be based on Barnes pulling his hand away.
Law enforcement sources say Barnes was NOT intoxicated at the time of his arrest and it’s still unclear why the officer chose to wait 2 hours before busting Barnes.
As I noted the first time I heard about this, whenever you hear the cops charging anyone with resisting arrest, you already know it’s some BS. And as for the verbal threat, I knew he was lying about that too. He couldn’t say what Barnes said, even though it should be recorded.
God I hope he takes this lying pig to the cleaners. He had that man facing a felony charge for no reason. That’s how easy it is for a black man to be black listed for life.
Law enforcement sources say Barnes was NOT intoxicated at the time of his arrest and it’s still unclear why the officer chose to wait 2 hours before busting Barnes.
The question they need to answer is why they have this mofo whose job is to serve and protect actually running around with a vendetta against black men.
Who cares how long the cop waited and why is that even an issue? Matt Barnes should have taken care of this and it wouldn’t have been a problem.
“Who cares how long the cop waited and why is that even an issue?”
Do you really need someone to tell you why that is an issue?
Really!?
OK, since your brain must be on vacation, may we remind you that we are talking about a paid public employee who is expected to conduct public business efficiently. That’s an unnecessary two hours to arrest someone. Two hours for doing nothing at all. This was not a case where a stake out was required.
And apparently his department is still trying to come up with an explanation for his behavior:
Law enforcement sources say Barnes was NOT intoxicated at the time of his arrest and it’s still unclear why the officer chose to wait 2 hours before busting Barnes.
” Matt Barnes should have taken care of this and it wouldn’t have been a problem.”
You are aware that
Barnes had gone to the DMV, gotten his license reinstated, and mistakenly believed he no longer had to go to court to clear the ticket.
So are you insinuating then that Barnes would go through the trouble of having the license reinstated, but intentionally neglected to go to court to clear the ticket?
Really!?
As Barnes tweeted:
For all you perfect people out there looking at me w/your nose in the air, who have “NEVER” missed a court date for a “TRAFFIC VIOLATION” God Bless You…”
Further, on the illegal behavior of the cop, you are aware that
A police official for the dept. initially claimed the basis for the resisting arrest charge was a verbal threat allegedly made by Barnes, but we’ve learned the charge will be based on Barnes pulling his hand away.
I guess you didn’t know (or don’t care) that’s a felony charge carrying ten years, since you don’t seem to have a problem with the cop falsely accusing Barnes of committing it?
No, I don’t think this man should be charged with a felony just for forgetting to go to court and attempting to pass his keys to his girlfriend while being arrested. Not after he had previously went and got his license reinstated and even voluntarily placing his hand behind his back even though the cop didn’t even say why he was being arrested.
Unlike you, I think there are enough black men in prison already, and this is exactly the reason why so many are already there. Because of racist cops like these with a vendetta and people who condone their behavior.