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Black man accuses police of racial profiling after being 'handcuffed and held at gunpoint' moving TV into his new home

A black man was handcuffed and held at gunpoint by police as he moved into his own house

Karle Robinson, 61, accused police of racially profiling him as he was detained on suspicion of burglary while moving a TV into his new home in Kansas.

He believes police were "motivated by his race" rather than any other factor which might may have raised suspicions for the officers.

Mr Robinson arrived at his home in Tonganoxie shortly after midnight on August 19 and made numerous trips in and out of the house carrying items from a removals van.

At around 2.30 am as he carried in his TV he was approached by an officer who pulled into the driveway who drew his gun and told Robinson to put down the item.

Karle Robinson says he does not think the incident would have happened if he were white (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)
Karle Robinson says he does not think the incident would have happened if he were white (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)

He told Mr Robinson there had been "a lot of break-ins" in the area. He put him in handcuffs.

Mr Robinson showed paperwork to prove it was his home and was later uncuffed, with the officers saying they hoped he understood their actions, which they blamed on crime in the vicinity of his home.

The Kansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has now asked state officials to investigate the situation.

Lauren Bonds, legal director of the ACLU of Kansas, said in a statement: "Mr Robinson believes his detention was motivated by his race rather than a reasonable suspicion that he was committing a burglary.

"It also appears that the Chief of Police prevented Mr Robinson from filing a credible, legitimate complaint and that is not in compliance with reporting and intake standards. He must not interfere with citizens registering complaints."

The group has asked the Kansas Attorney General to investigate the matter.

Tonganoxie's police chief, Greg Lawson, said the force will cooperate with any investigation but said the force believes there are "multiple accusations that are inaccurate​" in the ACLU statement.

Mr Robinson, a Marine veteran who is retired and volunteers as a radio DJ at a Kansas City radio station said: "I'd like to see those cops and that chief lose their jobs because this was uncalled for - this is strictly racial profiling."

He added that if he were white "we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now."