Controversial Arrest of Black Teen Taking Out Trash Sparks Outrage

A viral TikTok video shows Lansing police mistakenly detaining a young Black man who was taking out the trash, believing him to be a suspect in car thefts. The police department called it an "unfortunate understanding" and stated that the young man matched the suspect's description. Social media users and advocates criticized the police for harmful stereotyping and the potential psychological harm caused to the young man and his family. The video has garnered over 2.6 million views, with many defending the young man. The police department hopes to move past the incident and continue serving the community.