TX - Austin man stopped twice, 'roughed & cuffed' for "babysitting while white"

[LaLaw2000]

I don't know that I would call the cops. That would depend on what I saw from the kid. But yeah, I would notice. You just don't see an older man alone with a little girl too often in my area. It would stand out. And I have enough websleuthitis that it would stand out.

What was the kid doing before LE came along? Was there suspicious clues in her actions? Was she chattering happily? Or dragginAg her feet and acting reluctant? Was there something else besides age or race that made the caller make the call? Unless they tell what the caller said, we really aren't going to know what the caller saw that made him/her suspicious. Was it the different race, the age or something else? Are we jumping to conclusions by assuming it was prompted by race?

BBM:

Those are very good questions. Personally, I think it was the different race as well as the age difference. Unfortunately, racism is still alive in some southern states, and racial profiling is done whether it is called racial profiling or another name for it is used. It happenns where I live also.

The reason I say this is because I have been stared at by the older generation while being out with my one and only great grandchild. Her Dad is a wonderful soldier in the U. S. Army and he just happens to be black. They met while serving in Korea. Her mother is my granddaughter and she processed out of the U. S. Air Force approximately one year ago because she would not want to be deployed at the same time he was because of Gabby. Gabby is my great granddaughter. She is of mixed race. I love Gabby, her mother, and her Dad more than words can say.

They were down here (Louisiana) visiting when I took Gabby to the grocery with me alone. A young mother stopped and admired my beautiful granddaughter while a much older woman whispered to the woman she was with and stared. I am a 61 year old white female. I don't think the women were whispering about my age. Gabby's Mom, Dad, and myself went out to eat while they were here, and again we were stared at. Again, by older people.

I absolutely abhor racism, and I do not doubt that was what happened to this man. For the record, my late husband was retired LE, and I spent 10 years in it myself, so my feelings do not reflect a disgust with LE. My disgust is that I do feel racial profiling as well as racism is still alive and well in the south in many areas. My prayer is that someday it will become a thing of the distant past.

Well, this is my rant for the day and certainly isn't directed toward you, mysteriew. I was using your post to bold your questions. Love Ya!

JMO's

ETA: I do realize that my experience was a totally different kind than the person's in the article, but I did want to tell it. AND, racism as well as profiling does go both ways, IMO.

 

[BuzzieCat]

I read this man's responses on his blog, and it's something I've seen other people on various websites post as well. Something along the lines of: Never talk to LE without a lawyer, don't tell them *anything* even if you are innocent of any wrongdoing and what you have to say would be the truth. LE is not your friend and can/will use whatever you say against you.

Is that really so? I mean, I know they can use whatever you say against you, but if you are innocent and you tell the truth, how can they use it against you? Do they twist it and lie or what? I mean I don't understand.

I mean, in this context, if this man Scott had told LE his name, his granddaughter's name, briefly explained their situation and given LE a phone number to check if his story is legit, how could LE have used this information to harm him?

 

[mysteriew]

I live in Ohio in a rural area. And here it isn't uncommon to see a woman of child bearing age with a child who appears to be either black or mixed. Occasionally I even see an older woman with a similar child. It isn't that big a deal anymore.

But like I said, it is unusual in my area to see an older man with kids alone. Kids of any race. I sometimes see couples of grandparent age with kids, but not men alone. So to me, that would stand out.

One thing I do worry about in this situation. I am afraid this gf has marked his grandkid. After all this, if a neighbor saw a man pulling this kid down the street kicking and screaming.... would they feel comfortable about calling LE to have it checked out now?

 

[oh_gal]

Is his son the child's father? I'm confused, because in the OP, it says that he is the child's grandfather, but then it goes on to say that she is the 5-year-old daughter of his god-daughter.

 

[TracyLynnS]

Is his son the child's father? I'm confused, because in the OP, it says that he is the child's grandfather, but then it goes on to say that she is the 5-year-old daughter of his god-daughter.

The way I understood the information was that Ty's mother was taken in by Grits (Scott) and his wife when she was a child. She grew up, got married, and had Ty. Since they were so close, Grits was chosen to be Ty's Godfather, but they have a relationship of grandfather/granddaughter even though there is no blood relation.

 

[JeannaT]

Here's an older guy, chasing a little different race child into the woods after dark.

REALLY he didn't think that looked suspicious? By his description, she was running ahead and he was running after her. He's very white, she's black.

I certainly think that looks EXTREMELY suspicious.

He's not even this child's grandfather, as he repeatedly claims.

I am not usually on the side of LE - I think that's usually pretty obvious - but I think they were well within reason to stop once, and when he seemed suspicious (acting belligerent and refusing to cooperate is suspicious) calling more cops for a more invasive interview is in line. This is a child we're talking about, it's not like they suspected him of lifting a six pack of beer. It's a child.

The behavior of this child is typical of kids who are being kidnapped - they appear a bit flustered, don't answer clearly (she didn't) and hem and haw.

A cop would be remiss to not investigate further. Kudos to them for caring enough.

 

[mysteriew]

I keep thinking what we would have said if some guy kidnapped the girl, neighbors saw the same behaviors and didn't call LE..... we would have been outraged.

Same if neighbors did call LE and LE just asked him a few questions and let him go without too much trouble. And it later was determined that the girl had been kidnapped. We would have been beyond outraged.

 

[justthinkin]

The 'stop and identify' statute allows LE to stop someone and question them. Refusing to give LE your name if this happens is usually a sign that a person is wanted for some reason or another.

He refused to give his name.

LE didn't just roll up on him and cuff him for no reason.

Moo

Looks like they did. There is no stop and identify statute in the state of Texas.