I said. " I just said you're hurting me. " She twisted my arm behind me anyways. Pain shot through my shoulder. I bent forward shocked. "
Officer, I'm not fighting you. " She leaned close to my ear and said, "Then stop acting like you belong here. " The words hit harder than the twist in my arm. I looked at my own porch, my own door, my own flower bed I had planted last spring. I had worked overtime to buy this house.
I had painted the shutters myself. I had fixed the driveway cracks myself. And now a police officer had me bent over on my lawn like I was trespassing on my own life. " My wallet is inside. " I said. "
My phone is on the porch. Check anything. " She shoved me forward. My knee hit the grass. " Stay down. "
She barked. " This is what happens when you don't listen. " A car slowed down on the street. The officer turned and screamed, "Keep moving. " The driver sped off.
That scared me more than anything. She didn't want witnesses. She pushed my shoulder again forcing me lower. The grass was damp against my jeans. I could smell gasoline from the mower.
I said, "I want a supervisor. " She laughed. " You don't get to make demands. " Then she pressed her knee into my back. Not lightly.
Not for safety. She wanted me to feel powerless. " This neighborhood has been having problems. " She said. " And look what I find standing here. "
I heard my front door open. My younger cousin stepped onto the porch eyes wide holding my phone. " Andrew. " He called out. The officer snapped her head towards him. "
Get him back inside. " He froze. I said, "Record this. " Her face changed instantly. She reached for something on her vest and shouted, "Put that phone down. "
My cousin didn't move. He just held it up hands shaking. That was when she grabbed me by the back of my tank top and pulled me up too fast. " You think filming helps you? " She said. "
It helps people see. " I answered. She shoved me against the side of the police car. My chest hit the hot metal. " Spread your legs. "
I said. " For mowing my lawn. " She slammed her palm between my shoulder blades. " For refusing lawful commands. " I couldn't believe how quickly she built a fake story out loud.