Michael Bennett Says Las Vegas Police Pointed Gun at Him After Mayweather Fight

Michael Bennett says he was restrained, had gun pointed at him by Las Vegas Police

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett says he was restrained and had a gun pointed at him by officers of the Las Vegas Police Department last month for no reason other than being black and being at the "wrong place at the wrong time."

Bennett posted a message on social media describing the incident. TMZ posted video of Bennett being detained on its website. 

Bennett says he was in Las Vegas on Aug. 26 on his day off to attend the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight. After the fight, Bennett says he headed back to his hotel when he heard what he thought were gunshots.

He says he ran away from the area seeking safety when he was confronted by a Las Vegas police officer who ordered him to the ground. The Las Vegas police department undersheriff said Bennett running from the scene was the reason the officer detained him, and the officer did not have his body camera on at the time of the incident, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.

In the video posted by TMZ, Bennett is seen face-down on the sidewalk being cuffed by an officer while he insists, "I wasn't doing nothing, man!"

"All I could think of was 'I'm going to die for no other reason than being black and my skin color is somehow a threat.'

"Terrified and confused by what was taking place, a second officer came over and forcefully jammed his knee into my back making it difficult for me to breathe," Bennett wrote.

Equality. pic.twitter.com/NQ4pJt94AZ

— Michael Bennett (@mosesbread72) September 6, 2017

Bennett says his fingers went numb because the handcuffs were so tight. He repeatedly asks the officers what he did to be handcuffed.

Later, Bennett says he was placed into the back of a police car and only released when officers verified his name and that he was professional football player.

"The system failed me," Bennett wrote. "I can only imagine what Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and CharleenaLyles felt."

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department undersheriff Kevin McMahill gave a press conference regarding the incident. McMahill said that when officers arrived at the Casino, Bennett ran out and hopped a fence, which McMahill said led officers to believe that Bennett might be involved in the incident. McMahill said a supervisor explained the situation to Bennett and that Bennett said he had no problem with what the officers had done. 

Bennett says he has hired an attorney to investigate the incident and that he plans to explore his legal options, including a potential civil suit for violation of his civil rights.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll released a statement in support of Bennett. 

May this incident inspire all of us to respond with compassion and courage pic.twitter.com/vtsaB8BWi5

— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) September 6, 2017

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith also tweeted his support for the Seahawks defensive lineman.

.@mosesbread72 is one of the best. We should all support him. My statement: pic.twitter.com/7e6gl25ip8

— DeMaurice Smith (@demauricesmith) September 6, 2017

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out an official statement saying, "the issues Michael has been raising deserve serious attention from all of our leaders in every community."

.@nflcommish statement on Michael Bennett pic.twitter.com/OZkF18g079

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) September 6, 2017

Bennett has said he plans to protest all season during the playing of the national anthem to shed a light on racial injustice in the United States.