She barked. " This is what happens when you don't listen. " A car slowed down on the street. The officer turned and screamed, "Keep moving. " The driver sped off.
That scared me more than anything. She didn't want witnesses. She pushed my shoulder again forcing me lower. The grass was damp against my jeans. I could smell gasoline from the mower.
I said, "I want a supervisor. " She laughed. " You don't get to make demands. " Then she pressed her knee into my back. Not lightly.
Not for safety. She wanted me to feel powerless. " This neighborhood has been having problems. " She said. " And look what I find standing here. "
I heard my front door open. My younger cousin stepped onto the porch eyes wide holding my phone. " Andrew. " He called out. The officer snapped her head towards him. "
Get him back inside. " He froze. I said, "Record this. " Her face changed instantly. She reached for something on her vest and shouted, "Put that phone down. "
My cousin didn't move. He just held it up hands shaking. That was when she grabbed me by the back of my tank top and pulled me up too fast. " You think filming helps you? " She said. "
It helps people see. " I answered. She shoved me against the side of the police car. My chest hit the hot metal. " Spread your legs. "
I said. " For mowing my lawn. " She slammed her palm between my shoulder blades. " For refusing lawful commands. " I couldn't believe how quickly she built a fake story out loud.
First I was suspicious, then I was damaging property, now I was refusing commands. Every sentence was another brick in the wall she was building around me. She patted my pockets rough, then she pulled out my house keys. She held it up like it was evidence. " Where did you get this? "
She demanded. " That opens my front door, " I said. " Try it. " She looked towards the house, then back at me. For 1 second she seemed unsure, then pride took over. "
A key doesn't prove ownership. " I almost laughed in disbelief, but I knew laughing would make it worse. " Then check the registration, check tax records, check my ID. " She leaned close again. " I don't need advice from you. "
The way she said you made my skin crawl. My cousin was still recording from the porch. The officer saw him and suddenly changed her voice, louder and cleaner. " Sir, stop resisting. " I wasn't moving.
My hands were flat against the cruiser, but she said it again for the camera. " Stop resisting. " Then she pulled one arm back like she wanted my cousin to capture a struggle that did not exist. I said loudly, "I am not resisting. I am standing still. "
She dug her fingers into my wrist. " You're making this hard on yourself. " I answered, "No, you are. " That was when another police car turned to the corner. For a second I felt relief, then fear came right after it because I didn't know if they were coming to stop her or help her.
Two officers stepped out. One was older, calm, and serious. The blonde officer immediately started talking before they reached us. " He was acting suspicious, refusing ID, possibly stealing equipment. " I turned my head, "That's my mower. "
She shoved my face back towards the car. The older officer noticed. " Why's he against the cruiser? " She snapped, "Because he was not compliant. " My cousin shouted from the porch, "That's not true.