Little Rock City Director Ken Richardson was handcuffed by police Wednesday night after officers said he interfered with the apprehension of a robbery suspect.
Richardson, who represents Ward 2, said he was just watching the encounter and that the experience was offensive.
"It was idiotic at best. It was supremacy at worst," he said.
Officers were apprehending a possible robbery suspect outside the Kroger at 6420 Colonel Glenn Road about 5:30 p.m. when the suspect said there was someone behind his vehicle taking pictures, according to the report.
Officers then observed a car idling close by and told the driver, later identified as Richardson, that the suspect did not want to be filmed and advised Richardson to drive away.
Richardson, 53, got out of his car and walked toward the patrol vehicle, the report said. Officers told him to leave because he was "interfering with" the stop. Richardson said he would not leave and was then handcuffed and put in the back of the police vehicle, according to the report.
Richardson was cited for obstructing governmental operations, a misdemeanor.
Richardson said he felt compelled to watch when he saw officers with the suspect in an alleyway because of constituent complaints that he'd heard about police relations.
Richardson said he had a previously-scheduled meeting with Little Rock Police Chief Keith Humphrey on Thursday. The city director said Humphrey apologized.
Metro on 10/11/2019