Pocono News Section

Racial Profiling By Police in the Poconos?

Racial Profiling By Police in the Poconos? - Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 4:00PM EST

? Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 @04:00pm EST
EAST STROUDSBURG - Was it a justified traffic stop or was it racial profiling? It's a question many people in Monroe County are asking because police officers pulled over a van with several black passengers, cuffed them and questioned them for nearly an hour.

Five young men were handcuffed like criminals, laid down on the ground like criminals, and searched like criminals but it turns out the they didn't do anything wrong. They say they were stopped because they are all black.

One man who did not give his name said, "We were surprised, we just came to pick someone up and we have to deal with this."

The group drove from New York to pick up a friend from jail. Julian Gonzalez was locked up in Lewisburg for seven years because he plead guilty to selling drugs. He said, "I go released like an hour ago and this is how I get."

Julian said he was ready to start a new life when officers stopped him and his friends in Monroe County just before the East Stroudsburg exit on Interstate 80 east.

"I think it was racial profiling. Definitely they said that we fit the description of a home invasion."

Police told the young men they matched the description of some people who they believe broke into a house in Chestnuthill Township. Rommel Fanjul didn't believe the explanation. He said, "It's embarrassing 'cause I pay taxes."

Officers let the men go after they searched them, searched their van and found no reason to hold them any longer. The whole stop lasted about an hour.

Even though most of the men were upset one said he understands officers have a job to do. Ralph G. said, "It's nothing. It's nothing. Keep doing your job. You're doing a fine job.

State Police did not return calls for comment on the situation. They also have not yet released any information on the alleged home invasion in Chestnuthill Township.