Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has accused Las Vegas Police of racism and excessive force during his detention after a report of a shooting in a casino.
The NFL star was in Las Vegas on Aug. 27 to see the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor boxing match. After the fight, Bennett stopped in at the Cromwell casino.
Bennett had the bad luck to choose a casino where guests heard and reported a sound similar to gunshots. Police were called at 1:30 a.m. to respond to an assault and battery with a firearm, and with an active shooter in the casino.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Undersheriff Kevin McMahill responded to Bennett’s tweet at a press conference on Sept. 6. After explaining the incident, he showed a lengthy video from another officer’s body cam.
McMahill said that the incident was being investigated by Internal Affairs, but from what he had seen, there was no racism involved. Police looking for an armed attacker would naturally expect someone who was trying to hide, who fled once he saw police, to be a possible suspect. It made sense this person would be detained and investigated.
After Bennett was identified, he was released. McMahill said that at the time Bennett said he understood the officers’ actions and was alright with what had happened.
“I can tell you as I stand here today, I see no evidence that race played any role in this incident,” McMahill asserted.
McMahill pointed out that officers helped patrons of all races exit the casino safely, and that the two officers who detained Bennett are Hispanic.
McMahill assured the public that if the investigation showed that any policies or training was violated, those officers will be held accountable.
