http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Forn...led-over-at-gunpoint-by-police-272391361.html
FORNEY -- A law-abiding mother - with four children under the age of ten in tow - was pulled over by Forney police at gunpoint and handcuffed in front of the kids two weeks ago.
Police say they were responding to a call of a motorist waving a gun out their window, and that precautions were necessary.
In dash cam video, you can hear an officer yell, “Driver, let me see your hands! Everybody stick their hands out the window!”
It was the moment that shook Kametra Barbour’s belief that bad things don’t happen to good people.
Her car was loaded up with small children -- two of her own and two, her godchildren. Her hands were above her head, then shackled in cuffs. Moments later, her 6-year-old son, Ryan, comes out, too, with his hands up.
“Makes me angry all over again,” Barbour said after watching the video.
How did this happen?
It started with a 911 call and a very clear description of a vehicle speeding down the highway, the driver waving a gun out the window.
911 Caller: “It is going to be a beige- or tan-colored Toyota occupied by four black males.”
But the cars didn’t match.
“I drive a Nissan Maxima that is burgundy red,” Barbour said.
But after the suspect car sped far down the road, the 911 caller was now far back and thought the suspect was exiting the highway. And that was the very exit where Kametra Barbour’s car was.
“The complainant that called in said that vehicle took that exit,” said Forney Police Detective Michael Clay.
The video shows Barbour get out of the car, then the officers tell her to walk backwards to them with her hands up.
Here's a transcription of the interaction:
Officer: "Put your hands on your head. Right here. Come on back."
Barbour: "What is wrong? My kids!"
Officer: “How old are they?”
Barbour: “They’re six and eight and ten, nine. What are we doing?"
Officer: “Hold on a second, okay?”
Barbour: “What is going on? Oh my God, you will terrify my children.”
Officer: “We got a complaint of a vehicle matching your description and your license plate, waving a gun out the window.”
In less than a minute, the officers knew they had the wrong car. You can hear them de-escalate.
Officer 1: “Do they look young to you?"
Officer 2: “They do to me.”
Officer 1: “Huh?”
Officer 2: “They do to me.”
Officer 1: “Yep, they’re young.”
Officer 1: [To other officers] “Gun down, gun down, gun down.”
Officer 1: [As the child exits the vehicle] “Come on back here, son. Come on back here, you’re alright.”
Within moments, the officers are trying to calm the children’s nerves.
Officer: "Y’all okay?
Child: “I’m scared."
Officer: “It’s okay."
Child: "Are we going to jail?”
Officer: “No. No one is going to jail.”
Child: [Scream, crying]
Officer: “Hey, stop crying. It’s okay. It’s okay. Everything’s fine now.”
Was Barbour treated properly by the police?
“For the nature of the call - that a weapon was involved - yes,” Detective Clay said.
Barbour understands officers were making quick decisions that night. Nonetheless, she is still deeply troubled.
“I need you to make sure you have all the facts, because you can’t just say, ‘Okay, I’m sorry,' and then I’m over it. I can’t. Every time I listen to and hear or think about it, it bothers you. I can’t just say, 'I’m fine. It’s okay. It’s not a big deal.' It is,” Barbour said.
Especially when you’re six years old.
FORNEY -- A law-abiding mother - with four children under the age of ten in tow - was pulled over by Forney police at gunpoint and handcuffed in front of the kids two weeks ago.
Police say they were responding to a call of a motorist waving a gun out their window, and that precautions were necessary.
In dash cam video, you can hear an officer yell, “Driver, let me see your hands! Everybody stick their hands out the window!”
It was the moment that shook Kametra Barbour’s belief that bad things don’t happen to good people.
Her car was loaded up with small children -- two of her own and two, her godchildren. Her hands were above her head, then shackled in cuffs. Moments later, her 6-year-old son, Ryan, comes out, too, with his hands up.
“Makes me angry all over again,” Barbour said after watching the video.
How did this happen?
It started with a 911 call and a very clear description of a vehicle speeding down the highway, the driver waving a gun out the window.
911 Caller: “It is going to be a beige- or tan-colored Toyota occupied by four black males.”
But the cars didn’t match.
“I drive a Nissan Maxima that is burgundy red,” Barbour said.
But after the suspect car sped far down the road, the 911 caller was now far back and thought the suspect was exiting the highway. And that was the very exit where Kametra Barbour’s car was.
“The complainant that called in said that vehicle took that exit,” said Forney Police Detective Michael Clay.
The video shows Barbour get out of the car, then the officers tell her to walk backwards to them with her hands up.
Here's a transcription of the interaction:
Officer: "Put your hands on your head. Right here. Come on back."
Barbour: "What is wrong? My kids!"
Officer: “How old are they?”
Barbour: “They’re six and eight and ten, nine. What are we doing?"
Officer: “Hold on a second, okay?”
Barbour: “What is going on? Oh my God, you will terrify my children.”
Officer: “We got a complaint of a vehicle matching your description and your license plate, waving a gun out the window.”
In less than a minute, the officers knew they had the wrong car. You can hear them de-escalate.
Officer 1: “Do they look young to you?"
Officer 2: “They do to me.”
Officer 1: “Huh?”
Officer 2: “They do to me.”
Officer 1: “Yep, they’re young.”
Officer 1: [To other officers] “Gun down, gun down, gun down.”
Officer 1: [As the child exits the vehicle] “Come on back here, son. Come on back here, you’re alright.”
Within moments, the officers are trying to calm the children’s nerves.
Officer: "Y’all okay?
Child: “I’m scared."
Officer: “It’s okay."
Child: "Are we going to jail?”
Officer: “No. No one is going to jail.”
Child: [Scream, crying]
Officer: “Hey, stop crying. It’s okay. It’s okay. Everything’s fine now.”
Was Barbour treated properly by the police?
“For the nature of the call - that a weapon was involved - yes,” Detective Clay said.
Barbour understands officers were making quick decisions that night. Nonetheless, she is still deeply troubled.
“I need you to make sure you have all the facts, because you can’t just say, ‘Okay, I’m sorry,' and then I’m over it. I can’t. Every time I listen to and hear or think about it, it bothers you. I can’t just say, 'I’m fine. It’s okay. It’s not a big deal.' It is,” Barbour said.
Especially when you’re six years old.
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