Michael Bennett’s statements need to be investigated, police union presidents says
Sep 8, 2017, 11:18 AM
Las Vegas police Undersheriff Kevin McMahill watches body camera footage during a press conference on accusations by Seattle Seahawks player Michael Bennett in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
The Las Vegas Police union is asking NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett for making, what they call, false claims against the department.
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Detective Steve Grammas with the Police Protective Association sent a letter to Roger Goodell asking for appropriate action be taken against the Bennett.
#BREAKING: letter from union for @LVMPD officers to @nflcommish requesting investigation into Michael Bennett @mosesbread72 @LVPPA @8NewsNow pic.twitter.com/B7tdqgag7K
— Vanessa_Murphy (@Vanessa_Murphy) September 7, 2017
The letter discusses the Twitter post by Bennett in which he provides his side of the story. In the letter, the Grammas calls Bennett’s comments “false and defamatory.”
“There are some statements in his letter to the world that are false and misleading,” Grammas said. “And they need to be looked into.”
Bennett says an officer pointed a gun at his head and would “blow my (expletive) head off.”
The encounter occurred when police responded to a call of an active shooter situation at the Cromwell casino at 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 27. Video surveillance shows officers entering the building and ordering patrons to flee. According to the LVMPD Undersheriff Kevin McMahill, an officer noticed Bennett crouched behind a gaming machine and gave chase when Bennett got up and ran out of the building.
Grammas said Bennett wasn’t singled out. The only reason police gave chase was because Bennett decided to get up and run, he said. Bennett brought the attention to himself, Grammas added.
Grammas says a gun was not shoved in his face, nor did an officer shove a knee into Bennett’s back so hard he couldn’t breathe.
Grammas wants the NFL to investigate the claims Bennett has made.
Goodell posted support of Bennett on social media, saying he represents the best of the NFL.
McMahill said the department is reviewing 126 videos that may have captured the incident. He encouraged bystanders who may have video from the event to submit it to the LVMPD for evidence.
