Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett said Wednesday he experienced police brutality while in Las Vegas for the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight on Aug. 26.
Posting a statement on Twitter, Bennett said he was singled out after running away after hearing gunfire following the fight. Police then singled him out and pointed their guns at him, he said.
Police officers ordered him to the ground, placed a gun to his head and “warned me if I moved my head, he would ’blow my [expletive] head off,’” Bennett said.
“The Officers’ excessive use of force was unbearable,” Bennett said in his statement. “I felt helpless as I lay there on the ground facing the real life threat of being killed. All I could think of was ’I’m going to die for no reason other than I’m black and my skin color is somehow a threat.’”
Equality. pic.twitter.com/NQ4pJt94AZ
— Michael Bennett (@mosesbread72) September 6, 2017
Bennett said he was let go after the officers realized he was “Michael Bennett a famous professional football player.”
Bennett has hired Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris to investigate the matter and explore legal options.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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