Incident at Dallas Love Field Airport Sparks Call to Action
Friends and family stood with Michael Singleton outside the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building this week to call for action after he was shot with a stun gun by police during an arrest at Dallas Love Field airport this month.
The Incident
On April 19, Singleton, a Frisco chef and entrepreneur who runs catering businesses in Dallas and Oakland, Calif., prepared to board a flight at Love Field to Oakland when two men approached him.
The men were not wearing uniforms but later identified themselves as Dallas police narcotics detectives, according to Robert Slater, the founder of The Culture Commission Coalition, who represents Singleton.
The Dallas Police Department said in a statement Singleton tensed his arms and refused to place them behind his back, which police said “displayed defensive resistance.”
Police Policy and Procedure
Dallas police policy states a taser can be used in a situation to de-escalate the arrest and prevent injury to both the arrested person and the arresting officers, Officer Luis Mata, a police spokesperson, said in the emailed statement.
Slater recalled the video of Singleton’s arrest taken by onlookers at Love Field, saying a Dallas police officer fired his stun gun, which struck Singleton in the chest. The officer fired a second time, striking Singleton in the leg.
“His Miranda rights were not read even while he was detained,” Slater said. “There are certain policies and procedures that must be in place. The Texas law dealing with [stun guns] states that when you use it, you must give a verbal demand prior to firing the trigger. The only verbal demand that we saw him give was [asking] his buddies to take a step back.”
Aftermath of the Incident
Police took Singleton to the city detention center, where he was charged with outstanding warrants, according to the DPD statement. Singleton said that at the detention center, he was asked to pay an outstanding traffic ticket of $500.
Ty Frazier, another chef in Dallas, has known Singleton for almost 15 years. The community of chefs in Dallas, he said, is tightly knit and often gathers to talk about “this type of stuff.” When Frazier heard the news, he was in disbelief.
“I saw it online and I was like, ‘Not my buddy, not Chef Mike.’ He doesn’t carry himself like a drug dealer. He has two catering businesses, one here and one in Oakland,” Frazier said. “But the first thing I thought about is, if it could happen to him, it could happen to me.”
Community Reaction
Especially after Singleton’s arrest, Frazier sees the need for police to understand the communities they work in.
“They got to get out into the communities and know the people that they’re dealing with,” Frazier said. “We’re human just like everybody else. At the end of the day, we all bleed red.”
Singleton, who said he had pre-existing health conditions during the news conference, said law enforcement needs to have patience when approaching people. At the news conference, Singleton used a sling for his right arm because of nerve damage from the incident at the airport. He said the sling provides pain relief, though it isn’t “something that the doctor recommends I keep on.”
“If I had something that was serious with my heart, I might have not made it to talk to you today,” Singleton said. “The law has to be more patient than a civilian. They’re the ones that are protecting us.”
Conclusion
The incident at Dallas Love Field airport has sparked a call to action from the community, with many calling for police to re-examine their policies and procedures. The use of stun guns and the approach to arrests are under scrutiny, and the community is demanding more patience and understanding from law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened to Michael Singleton at Dallas Love Field airport?
A: Michael Singleton was shot with a stun gun by police during an arrest at Dallas Love Field airport on April 19. He was preparing to board a flight to Oakland when two men, who were not wearing uniforms, approached him and identified themselves as Dallas police narcotics detectives.
Q: What is the police policy on using stun guns?
A: According to the Dallas Police Department, a taser can be used in a situation to de-escalate the arrest and prevent injury to both the arrested person and the arresting officers.
Q: What did Singleton say about the incident?
A: Singleton said that law enforcement needs to have patience when approaching people and that the use of stun guns should be carefully considered. He also stated that he had pre-existing health conditions and that the incident could have had serious consequences for his health.
Q: How has the community reacted to the incident?
A: The community has been shocked and outraged by the incident, with many calling for police to re-examine their policies and procedures. There have been calls for more patience and understanding from law enforcement, particularly in terms of understanding the communities they work in.
