“You see all of the individuals, Blacks being arrested for among the most foolish stuff, however being arrested for watering flowers? It was embarrassing,” he advised WIAT.
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The incident acknowledged when Jennings returned house from church on Sunday and went to water his neighbor’s roses, the information station reported. One other neighbor known as the police, reporting a suspicious individual.
Jennings later realized that the neighbor who known as police really knew him, however she mentioned she didn’t acknowledge him when she known as, WIAT reported.
When officers from the Childersburg Police Division arrived, Jennings defined what he was doing and advised officers he lived throughout the road. They nonetheless requested him for identification.
“’No, I don’t have to provide no ID as a result of there ain’t no crime been dedicated,’ I mentioned, ‘however what I’ll do is I’ll let you know I’m Pastor Jennings and I reside proper throughout the road proper there and I mentioned you possibly can go ask my spouse,’” Jennings advised WIAT, recounting his dialog with the officers.
He then continued watering the flowers, and a sergeant was known as to the scene. That is when the state of affairs started to spiral.
“He got here up screaming at me,” Jennings advised ABC-affiliated WVTM. “’It’s essential shut up. Shut your mouth.’ Like, you don’t inform me to close up, boy.”
Jennings mentioned he didn’t need to get his ID as a result of he in all probability would’ve ended up with bullets in his again.
He was arrested though the girl who known as police advised officers she had made a mistake and pleaded with them to not detain Jennings, WVTM reported.
Jennings was charged with obstructing governmental operations, booked on the Talladega County Jail, and later launched. Described as belligerent within the police report, Jennings admitted he wasn’t glad in regards to the encounter as a result of he feels he was arrested with out trigger.
“Final I checked, watering roses ain’t no crime,” Jennings advised WIAT.
Childersburg Police Chief Rick McClelland advised WVTM a full investigation could be performed. Jennings plans on preventing the cost towards him.
He began to tear up when he thought of speaking to his son in regards to the encounter. Jennings mentioned even with an training, “it don’t matter.”