Lancaster County, South Carolina, Pete Beck, was charged with harassing 21 black residents in the area.
People made the accusations about Detective Sgt at a city council meeting.
“Something really needs to be done about Beck,” said one of the residents at the meeting, Fox 46 said.
Meeting participants told different stories about their interactions with the policeman, some saying he pulled them out several times for no reason and did not issue a ticket, while others say he verbally harassed them.
Beck is also accused of stopping black drivers for minor violations as an excuse to interrogate them and search his vehicle.
One woman said Beck had pulled her son several times in the past few weeks.
“He said something about his light in the car, so Beck pulled him out, made my son get out of the car, search him, search the car. So I’m trying to find out why you searched him, why he forced him out of the car, you didn’t smelled any kind of marijuana, no drugs or anything so what was the reason for you to do that? “
Lancaster Mayor Alston DeVenny said the council would help the community.
“The community itself asked,” reported CBS 17. “We need help to keep guns off our streets, drugs off our streets and this methodology that we use has created some concerns for people and because that concern has arisen, we definitely need take a look at it ”.
DeVenny noted that a system has been in place in the community for about 30 years to handle vehicles stopped by law enforcement authorities.
“When vehicle violations in particular occur, it allows the police to stop a vehicle, speeding, bad tail lights, all those kinds of things and gives you the opportunity to be present and see what’s going on in a neighborhood or in a specific vehicle. It’s just a way to keep your eyes open. “
The mayor said that if the current system is not working, the Lancaster city council will find another way to end drug and gun problems in the community.
“All complaints made in order to identify the situation we have investigated.”
Newsweek contacted DeVenny and Lancaster County Police for additional comments on the allegations.
Mandel Ngan / Getty
Correction 2/16/21: This article originally stated that the incident occurred in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It happened in Lancaster County, South Carolina. Newsweek regrets the mistake.