Woman calls police on Black man using his phone, falsely claims he had gun

Darren Cooper had arrived early for a meeting, but someone reported to local cops that he was sitting in his car armed.

An Akron, Ohio man recounted the events that led to officers from the Ravenna Police Department pulling guns on him as he sat in a parking lot on Aug. 13.

Darren Cooper (in t-shirt) arrived early in Ravenna, OH for a meeting, but someone reported to police that he was sitting in his car armed.

According to Darren Cooper, he was in Ravenna, a town about 20 miles northeast of Akron, sitting in his Mustang talking on his speaker phone and drinking tea when police pulled into the parking lot and approached his car, yelling, “Put your hands up!” 

Cooper told the Akron Beacon Journal that he was waiting outside of the Portage County Job and Family Services building, where he was expected for a 9 a.m. training session.  

Turns out a woman from a dentist’s office across the street had called police to say a man was sitting in a car with a gun. According to the report, in the 911 call, she is heard saying, “I really believe he was holding a pistol.” 

Read More: Couple removed from ferry over masks, blames Black Lives Matter

The woman continued: “I’m pretty darn sure it’s a pistol.” 

Four police officers arrived with unholstered weapons. Cooper was searched and released, and the police officers apologized. 

Cooper said he was “happy” to share his story “because my wife almost lost a husband, and my kids almost lost their father, over someone who thought I had a gun, but it was my iPhone.” 

Read More: Kamala Harris slams Trump, Barr for denying systemic racism in justice system

Cooper said the woman didn’t identify him by race, nor did she give the correct color of his car. The caller said his Mustang was black; it is dark gray. To him, “attention to detail is of the utmost importance.” 

Captain Jake Smallfield, a spokesman for the Ravenna Police Department, noted that he felt the incident was handled “professionally and civilly.”

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Smallfield said that he doesn’t plan to charge the caller, saying that police rely on tips to help deter crime. However, Cooper disagrees.

“They didn’t come at name with excessive force,” he said, “but the person who filed the false police report should be charged.” 

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Couple removed from ferry over masks, blames Black Lives Matter

For over an hour, the White man and woman held up the boat after they refused to disembark at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

A couple from Bay Ridge, NY, an enclave in Brooklyn, was pulled from a city ferry and handcuffed after they refused to comply with the New York state mask mandate. 

For more than an hour, the man and woman held up the boat after they refused to disembark at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The pair insisted that they had medical conditions preventing them from using face coverings mandated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, yet they failed to show officers any proof, and the man reportedly smoked a cigarette during much of the encounter. 

This Brooklyn couple, who refused to wear masks on a NY ferry, ended up handcuffed as they ranted against Black Lives Matter and discrimination against white Americans.
(Jake Offenhartz/Twitter)

Jake Offenhartz, a reporter for Gothamist, was on the scene and filmed the events, writing on Twitter that the couple encouraged him to keep filming. 

The couple told police that the ferry captain was “shaming” them and “discriminating against” them. 

“We’re being targeted. We’re being shamed.” (I spoke to the couple prior to this. They’re planning to sue, and encouraged me to film.) pic.twitter.com/SRLG6kqiqM

— Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) September 6, 2020

“If we were f**king Black, I can guarantee you that guy would never come out and tell us to put a mask on,” the wife ranted. 

“Right, because Black Lives Matter,” her husband agreed. 

Read More: Kamala Harris slams Trump, Barr for denying systemic racism in justice system

After a long standoff, during which other passengers demanded the couple leave, officers gave the two one last opportunity to voluntarily depart the ferry, citing that the captain had the authority to remove unruly passengers. The man and woman chose instead to be handcuffed and escorted from the boat. They said that they plan to sue. 

“I’m just so fed up, this has been going on since March, and my husband is f**king pissed off,” the woman told Gothamist. “Every time I have to commute to Manhattan, it’s a fu**ing process.”

After being removed from the boat, the couple was given a summons for disorderly conduct. 

Read More: Ben & Jerry’s announces new podcast on systemic racism, White supremacy

New York City was once the epicenter of the coronavirus, where more than 23,000 people have died from it. The COVID-19 infection rate, now, continues to decline in the city, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that the state’s infection rate has been less than 1% for over a month. 

“New Yorkers can help us keep that streak going by wearing masks, socially distancing and washing their hands,” Cuomo said. “Our actions today determine the rate of infection tomorrow.” 

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Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o and more attend Chadwick Boseman private memorial

The ‘Black Panther’ star will be laid to rest in his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina.

Just over a week after Chadwick Boseman died of cancer, several of his Black Panther costars gathered in Malibu for a private memorial. 

According to PEOPLE, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Boseman’s wife, Taylor Simone Ledward were among the attendees on Saturday. The Sun obtained photos of the event that also included Winston Duke and music played from a hang drum. 

Read More: Whoopi Goldberg calls for Wakanda theme park as tribute to Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman died on Aug. 28 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. His death stunned fans around the world, especially since very few people were aware he was ill. His rep confirmed the news of his death in a statement. 

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

“It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” read the statement. 

“He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side,” the statement continued. “The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

Michael B. Jordan was one of many of Boseman’s friends who penned heartfelt tributes after his death. 

“One of the last times we spoke, you said we were forever linked, and now the truth of that means more to me than ever, Since nearly the beginning of my career, starting with All My Children when I was 16 years old you paved the way for me,” Jordan shared in a touching post on social media. 

Actors Michael B. Jordan (L) and Chadwick Boseman attend the Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER Global Junket Press Conference on January 30, 2018 at Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

“You showed me how to be better, honor purpose, and create legacy. And whether you’ve known it or not…I’ve been watching, learning and constantly motivated by your greatness.”

Read More: Michael B. Jordan honors Chadwick Boseman: ‘I wish we had more time’

“You cared about me. You are my big brother, but I never fully got a chance to tell you, or to truly give you your flowers while you were here. I wish we had more time.I’m dedicating the rest of my days to live the way you did. With grace, courage, and no regrets. ‘Is this your king!?’Yes . he is! Rest In Power Brother.”

According to reports, Chadwick Boseman will be laid to rest in his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina. 

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Black-Owned Line of Bulletproof Vests For Adults and Children Sees 400% Increase in Sales

Thyk Skynn, a Black-owned line of fashionable bulletproof vests for men, women, and children, has seen a nearly 400 percent increase in sales over the past few weeks as Americans continue to grow concerned about their protection from police shootings and other random acts of violence.

Mike Tyree, the founder and CEO of Thyk Skynn, was a police officer in the city of Atlanta for 9 years. He says he left his career and decided to start the business to give innocent people a safe way to peacefully protect themselves.

Thyk Skynn vests have the same function as others bulletproof vests but are more fashionable and can even be disguised as normal attire. There are several designs available in various colors and sizes, and each vest has a ballistic armor panel carrier where ballistic material can be placed inside. The vests, however, are not cheap. They range from $325 to upwards of $500.

According to TMZ, the increase in sales apparently began following a continuous increase of senseless shootings of African Americans by police officers such as the case of Jacob Blake who was shot in the back 7 times by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

For more information about Thyk Skynn, visit www.thykskynn.com or follow the brand on Instagram @ThykSkynn

This article was originally written by BlackBusiness.com.

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Black-Owned Line of Bulletproof Vests For Adults and Children Sees 400% Increase in Sales

Thyk Skynn, a Black-owned line of fashionable bulletproof vests for men, women, and children, has seen a nearly 400 percent increase in sales over the past few weeks as Americans continue to grow concerned about their protection from police shootings and other random acts of violence.

Mike Tyree, the founder and CEO of Thyk Skynn, was a police officer in the city of Atlanta for 9 years. He says he left his career and decided to start the business to give innocent people a safe way to peacefully protect themselves.

Thyk Skynn vests have the same function as others bulletproof vests but are more fashionable and can even be disguised as normal attire. There are several designs available in various colors and sizes, and each vest has a ballistic armor panel carrier where ballistic material can be placed inside. The vests, however, are not cheap. They range from $325 to upwards of $500.

According to TMZ, the increase in sales apparently began following a continuous increase of senseless shootings of African Americans by police officers such as the case of Jacob Blake who was shot in the back 7 times by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

For more information about Thyk Skynn, visit www.thykskynn.com or follow the brand on Instagram @ThykSkynn

This article was originally written by BlackBusiness.com.

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