The last time Keith Yearwood was on the news, it was when the PUP
stalwart got fired from city hall. That was in back in April, and he'd
had a misunderstanding with his boss, the mayor Bernard Wagner about
using a mask at the traffic department.
Well, yesterday, Yearwood was arrested for not wearing a mask - and it
was all captured on camera. The storyline may sound familiar, but
Yearwood says there were extenuating circumstances - like the crying
one year old in his hand. Jules Vasquez has the story:
Keith Yearwood was sitting in a Belama barber shop - mask on chin, baby in
hand - when police came up on him to make an arrest for the improper use of
a mask. He refused to go with them:
Keith Yearwood - Charged for not wearing a mask
"Who wear mask eena barber shop?"
Suddenly, the arresting officer escalated, and slapped him with handcuffs,
as his grandson screamed. It was an ugly scene that played out in the
barber shop - a howling one year old in one hand, a too tight handcuff on
the other. And while it can be argued that he left the police with no
choice, not surprisingly, Yearwood sees it differently:
Keith Yearwood
"When he put the handcuff pon my hand the sergeant, sergeant Chun, come on
like you heartless, they are kids they cannot fend for themselves. My son
cannot look after his 2 nephews in my absence or any parental absence. She
said well you just have to follow orders, just give me a second let me call
my people them to come for these kids then. The precinct not too far from
the barber shop, it was like walking distance but he insist that I have to
go because I disrespect he. I realise that racism play was big part because
it's 2 Hispanic police and one black man and the black man had very little
to say. Supposed I dropped that baby? Supposed I leave the baby, they told
me to leave the baby there and let's go because he just have to take me."
Yearwood was taken in and charged for resisting arrest, not wearing a mask,
and threatening words - but he says he will plead not guilty:
Keith Yearwood
"Not guilty of course because I had on the mask but it wasn't on properly
but the way this man deal with me Jules, it traumatize my kids. I don't
want them feel like police brutality is okay when they get older you
understand me, this is not my first, this not my second, this is not my
third run in with the law. Look how they have my hand, it's like pop off my
hand for not wearing a mask."
Jules Vasquez
"But at the same time have you learned a lesson in terms of keeping your
mask because let's be real Keith, if you had your mask on legit over your
nose, we wouldn't be in this situation."
Keith Yearwood
"Absolutely but it's not the message, it's the messenger. Some of these
Hispanic police come from some rural villages where they no really have
interaction with black people, so when they see we, they don't know how to
deal with we. So, at the end of the day Jules we can't put aside the fact
that we live in a racist country. I say this over and over."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you realise there is a pattern of behaviour in your behaviour when
thing gone on at city hall, you said that the man have it in for you but
again you were not following the rules of city hall which was the same
situation with the mask and now you get catch again, police catch you
without the mask and I sure you see Chester on news the say don't use a
chin mask. So, I'm saying that this your pattern of behaviour, no like
follow rules but then want to blame other man for other thing."
Keith Yearwood
"I will accept responsibility because I am a big man Jules, I'm 42 and if
I'm doing something wrong, I will never stand up in front of you and say
Jules I'm right. Two wrongs don't make a right. Yes, I had my mask here,
the second run in with a mask but you have to know how to deal with people
with courtesy, professionalism and respect."
Yearwood says he has chronic asthma - which is why he is reluctant to
use masks.
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Keith Yearwood