The Philadelphia Police Department instituted a new policy on responding to calls about trespassing on private business property nearly two months after the controversial arrest of two black men at a local Starbucks. The new policy advises officers to first attempt to de-escalate and mediate the situation between the property owner or authorized person and the offender before arresting anyone. The officer must also witness the property owner or authorized person ask the person to leave and the individual’s refusal. Officers may decline to arrest someone if they determine that the property owner or authorized person is “attempting to misuse the enforcement powers of the police,” says a department memo on the new policy. In April, Philadelphia officers arrested two black men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, who were waiting for a friend at a Starbucks.

Source: Huffington Post June 08, 2018 19:30 UTC