Dec 2 3:54 PM

Black teens arrested in Rochester say they were waiting for bus

by The Stream Team @ajamstream

Rochseter, NY (Flickr/dougtone)

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UPDATE, December 3, 2013: The charges against the teens have been dropped, local Rochester news reports (statement from Monroe Country District Attorney at the end of this story).

Last week three black teens from the Edison Tech High School basketball team, waiting for a school bus in Rochester, NY, were arrested by police for disorderly conduct. Raliek Redd, Deaquon Carelock and Wan'tauhjs Weathers plead not guilty to the charges and had to each pay $200 so that they could be home with their families for Thanksgiving.

View the story "Black teens arrested in Rochester say they were waiting for bus " on StorifyBlack teens arrested in Rochester say they were waiting for bus Basketball coach comes to their defense, after three teens charged with disorderly conduct.Storified by AJAMStream· Tue, Dec 03 2013 09:20:38Complex"I feel it's unfair. Like, we weren't doing nothing. We're just regular kids trying to get to our game. Like we not doing nothing wrong, we're not harrassing nobody. We're not causing no trouble, no nothing," said Wan'tauhjs.rochesterhomepage.netAccording to reports, Edison coach Jacob Scott had to arrange for pick-up for the team at a central location because there was no school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. When Scott arrived at the scene, he saw the three teens getting arrested and tried to intervene. Scott said that police were going to arrest him as well."He goes on to say, 'If you don't disperse, you're going to get booked as well,'" Scott said. "I said, 'Sir, I'm the adult. I'm their varsity basketball coach. How can you book me? What am I doing wrong? Matter of fact, what are these guys doing wrong?'"rochesterhomepage.netThe Rochester police issued a statement about the arrests, saying that the teens were blocking "pedestrian traffic while standing on a public sidewalk...preventing free passage of citizens walking by and attempting to enter and exit a store...Your complainant gave several lawful clear and concise orders for the group to disperse and leave the area without complaince." News of the arrest has just begun to hit social media, and commentators are posting comments on the police's official Facebook page.Introducing Rochester - Where it is illegal to be a teenager of a minority race and stand on the street waiting for a school bus.facebook.comOne of the teen's mothers told local media that this is another case of police profiling youth."I think he seen a group of young black men and kind of stereotyped them for loitering, looking for trouble. He didn't take the time to speak to nobody of authority to see if they were actually telling the truth or if that what was going on," said Tynicia Weathers.rochesterhomepage.netLocal members of Rochester's school board have also weighed in."I'm very concerned about a pattern of young people being abused by police authority," said Rochester City School Board Member Mary Adams. "To me, this seems like a really clear case, part of a pattern."gothamist.comRedd, Carelock and Weathers will face trial on December 11.UPDATE, December 3, 2013: Local Rochester news reports that the charges against the teens have been dropped. Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley issued the following statement:"After reviewing the facts associated with these arrests, I have decided to dismiss the charges in the interest of justice."rochesterhomepage.net

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Black teens arrested in Rochester say they were waiting for bus

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