Little Rock Police Lay The Smackdown On Blind Man For Doing Nothing [Video]

Little Rock Police are under fire because two of their officers attacked an unarmed blind man on June 1. Eric Wilson has just got off of work at Lighthouse for the Blind. He usually takes a bus home, but on this day, Wilson missed his bus. He began walking home along 65th Street in Little Rock, Arkansas.

It was then that two unnamed Little Rock Police officers pulled up to Wilson as he was crossing the street. The officers were responding to reports that a man matching what they believed to be Wilson’s description was chasing someone who appeared to be afraid. Despite the fact Wilson was walking and no one was running from him, the police officers called Wilson over to the sidewalk.

Eric Wilson is legally blind. According to him, he can only see shadows. On the video, one of the officers can be heard yelling out for Wilson to get over there to see them. He had no idea who was calling him, He mentions as much to Fox News 16.

“I could have possibly been getting robbed. I didn’t know what was about to happen.”

Despite not knowing what was going on, Wilson went over to the officers. Once he got to them, the problems began. The officers ask Wilson to take his hands out of his pocket. One Little Rock Police police officers tells his side of the story in the police report.

“(Wilson) pulled way violently causing me to lose my grip.”

“(I was) afraid Mr. Wilson would strike myself or my partner with the handcuffs.”

They also mentioned they were aware of what appeared to be a black handle in Wilson’s pocket. As it turns out, the handle was in fact a clock for blind people. It is designed to speak the time to a person when a button is pushed. Wilson has not decided whether or not he is going to sue the department. However, he has retained a lawyer.

Little Rock Police is not commenting on the situation. They say they are investigating the incident with the current events that happened in McKinney, Texas. The police have come under very strict scrutiny about the force they use especially in a situation where the assailant doesn’t appear to have a weapon.

What do you think the fate of the officers should be in this case? Do you think the Little Rock Police officers should be suspended, or do you feel that they were justified in the way they handled the situation?

[Photo by Fox 16]