False Alarm Fray

Not too long after the start of my shift two different calls came in. One was a stabbing call, the other was shots fired at a club on 8th Ave and 16th street. Both turned out to be false reports though one could have become an actual call after the scene was cleared by the police.

The shots fired call was in a part of town that is known to be a generally bad area. This usually doesn't concern me, as member of the media I am somewhat considered an untouchable. Many times have I walked these parts, camera on my shoulder and mic in hand, without incident. Not tonight. Tonight the fog carried discontent and malice and no badge or station logo granted immunity to the fray.

The police were already on scene when I arrived. They were questioning each of the patrons, and patting down several of them. Seeing this, I thought there might be something to this call. A large group of people gathered across the street from the club, beside me. The group was mostly curious, but some were agitated and let it be known. Several people saw the actions of the police as harassment, and as they voiced their opinion the mood of the crowd slowly became darker.

I was shooting video while talking to some kids and showing them my camera when I heard someone from the crowd on my right yell, "White power!" Apparently this was meant to be a sarcastic remark towards the police (who were all white) in response to view of them harassing the black community. A couple of others reverberated the statement and laughter followed. Two people from the group came over to talk to me, one to voice his opinion on the situation and to tell me that no shots were fired, the other to warn me that some of members of the crowd had rocks and were threatening to throw them my way should the camera's Len's fall in their general direction.

Not happy that the verbal jabs weren't enough to entice any reaction from the police, the agitators decided to focus some of the remarks on me. I am used to remarks made at my or the station I work for expense, but the air to these remarks was of an enticing nature, a prick to see if the smell of blood could get the more passive of the crowd to follow suit. This was different alright, it wasn't lighthearted or meant to be just a passing slap, it was meant to bring action if possible.

About the time the comments were starting to come my way a local newspaper reporter arrived on scene. He and I discussed what was/not going on and what else might be going on around the area while waiting to see if this particular scene was going to be a story or not. As we waited, more people in the crowd became restless.

I could tell that this was not going to be a story, the police were milling around. No one was being detained. Anyone who was talking to an officer was doing it socially, and some officers were starting towards their cruisers. The newspaper reporter asked me if I was going to talk to the cops and get any information. I told him there was no need to, if it was anything they would have told me by now. I suggested we go ahead and leave. I know this sounds like I'm not pursuing the story, but if there was one I would have been told about it. And, I had the warning about watching where my camera was pointed. If there is a story to pursue, I think it would be the tone of the scene, the one I am writing now, this is the story.

The newspaper reporter wanted to question the police despite my suggestion. But, before he could make it to any of the cruisers, the police departed...leaving him and I alone with the crowd. Alone with the ones who saw this as a race issue, as an oppressive action taken by white cops. Alone with the ones who saw us as white media, only caring about reporting stories that made blacks look, stupid, violent, and animalistic.

The reporter was in the middle of 8th avenue when I heard someone say, "I'm going to slap that mother*******." This comment was followed by some agreeing comments from what was left of the crowd. I spotted the owner of the voice walking towards the reporter, his demeanor was aggressive. He said something else along the same lines of his first comment while falling in behind the reporter, who was making his way towards me.

I had already put my gear up and was standing by the driver's door of my unit watching my media comrade being semi-pursued. I had my cell phone out in case I needed to request the police. The reporters shadow was walking close behind with his chest swollen as if he was getting ready to square off with the reporter if need be, but luckily he made no move to attack. I was hoping that he might be happy with mockery and false bravado rather than continue on a path towards violence.

The reporter made it to my unit and the aggressor backed off and joined the crowd, which was making its way back to the bar. More offensive remarks came our way, things like, "Yeah, you better fucking leave now that the cops are gone." No matter, I can deal with that. I'm just glad that it didn't go down the route it seemed to be following for a short period of time.

Turns out, I found out this morning what was supposedly a false alarm was a large drug bust recovering $29,000 worth of crack cocaine.