Case 1: Nicholas Letney – Detroit Airport Incident
On November 20, 2022, 31-year-old Nicholas Letney caused a disturbance at Detroit Airport while waiting for a flight from Seattle to Dallas. After his flight was delayed, Letney’s behavior escalated, leading to his denial of boarding. In response, Letney launched into a racist tirade, resulting in airport police intervention. Letney, who has a history of making anti-Semitic remarks online and has written a racist book, was taken into custody and involuntarily committed to a hospital.
Case 2: Edward Matthews – Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Edward Matthews, a 45-year-old resident of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, became the target of neighborhood protests after a video of his racist rant went viral. The video captured Matthews harassing his Black neighbors, using racial slurs, and boasting about past violent acts. Matthews, who had a long history of harassment and violence towards his neighbors, was arrested four days later. He faced multiple charges, including bias intimidation, harassment, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Case 3: Terrell Owens – Broward County, Florida
On August 3, 2022, retired NFL player Terrell Owens had the police called on him by a woman named Caitlyn Davis while he was driving to his mailbox in Broward County, Florida. Davis accused Owens of speeding and harassing her, claims which were later proven to be false. Owens recorded the incident, highlighting the unfounded accusations and Davis’s attempt to escalate the situation by calling the police. Davis was later charged with filing a false police report, although the charges were eventually dropped.
Case 4: Nio Rios – Burley County, North Dakota
North Dakota lawmaker Nio Rios was pulled over by the Burley County Sheriff’s Department on December 15, 2022, for driving under the influence. Rios, who had an open bottle of alcohol in his car and admitted to drinking, failed a field sobriety test. During his arrest, Rios went on a racist rant against the arresting officer, who was from the United Kingdom. Rios was charged with DUI and refusing a chemical test, and he received nearly a year of unsupervised probation and a $1,000 fine.
Case 5: Montgomery County Police Incident
On May 9, 2019, multiple officers from Montgomery County Police Department detained a group of Black men outside a McDonald’s in Silver Spring, Maryland, following a loitering complaint. The officers’ interaction, which was recorded, included derogatory comments and the use of a racial slur. The men were cited for trespassing and marijuana possession. Despite the evidence, there are no records of disciplinary action against the officer who used the racial slur.
