An Ohio man said he was racially profiled when he went to cash a paycheck and instead was shackled and put in the back of a police car.
Paul McCowns, who is black, went into a Huntington Bank Dec. 1 to cash a check for more than $1,000 he had received from his new employer, WOIO reported.
He showed two forms of identification and gave a thumbprint in accordance with bank policy for nonmembers. However, the teller questioned the transaction and tried to call McCowns’ employer.
Because of the hassle, McCowns decided to leave.
He walked outside to get into his truck as a police car arrived. The teller had called 911.
"I have a customer here -- he's not our customer, actually. He's trying to cash a check and the check is fraudulent. It does not match our records," the teller told the 911 operator, WOIO reported.
McCowns was handcuffed and put in the back of the car while police sorted out the stories. His employer confirmed the check was legitimate and a few minutes later McCowns was released.
"My employer said, 'Yes he works for me. He just started and yes, my payroll company does pay him that much,'" McCowns told WOIO.
Police said the bank had received more than 10 fraudulent checks since July 18.
"We were given a description of the individual. When we arrived the male was leaving in his vehicle," Brooklyn Police Chief Scott Mielke told CNN. "He was not arrested but he was detained until our officers could figure out what was going on."
McCowns said he was profiled.
"It was highly embarrassing, highly embarrassing," McCowns told WOIO. "The person who made that phone call -- that manager, that teller -- whoever made that phone call, I feel as though they were judging."
Huntington Bank apologized to McCowns in a statement.
"We accept responsibility for contacting the police as well as our own interactions with Mr. McCowns," Huntington Bank said. "Anyone who walks into a Huntington branch should feel welcomed. Regrettably, that did not occur in this instance and we are very sorry. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest ethical standards in how we operate, hire and train colleagues, and interact with the communities we have the privilege of serving."
McCowns went to another Huntington Bank branch a couple of days later and cashed the check without incident.
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