Businessman Mike Menjivar Shares Encounter with Police
Meanwhile, Mike Menjivar says that he was unaware of what was happening in front of him. In fact, he was on his way to Melchor De Mencos when his vehicle was intercepted. Menjivar claims that he was treated like a criminal—assaulted, forced to the ground and his vehicle and person searched before he was allowed to continue on his journey. He feels like he was discriminated against by the officers for something he had no knowledge of. Here’s how he explains the experience to News Five via phone today.
On the Phone: Mike Menjivar, Businessman
“This morning I was on my way to the borders, I was going to pick up some medication from Melchor and while I was on my way, before Three Flags, I get to meet a long line of vehicles. As usual, I don’t follow lines, I overtake; I don’t have much time to go behind lines. So as usual I start to overtake that big line, but when I was more than half of that line, I saw many police vehicles on the same line. And then behind that line there was a white pickup truck with police on the pan of the vehicle with weapons and when I try to overtake that vehicle I was pointed with the gun, with the weapons they had. So I said, maybe something special is happening. So I respect and I stayed two vehicles behind, two vehicles away from that white pickup with police. One of the cops’ cap that they use on their head—not a cap, something soft material—flew away from one of the police that was on that white vehicle. And that cap rolled under my vehicle. When they saw that happen, it is when they like… you know. They were already feeling some hate when I was overtaking them, but I stay with respect on the line. But when that happen, it was like a drop of bird with hate on them. And they turn back the vehicle and everybody jump off the vehicle and came to me like I was criminal and they threaten me. And they told me, come out of the car and they pulled me off, they tear up my shirt, they threw me on the pavement of the road—it was very hot by the way. They keep me there like half an hour. I was not even knowing the reason why I was treated like that; them searching my vehicle. Again, I wasn’t with my weapon—I have a licensed firearm and I didn’t have it with me either because I was going to the border. But I was treated like I was carrying anything wrong with me. They put me on the media. Now everybody is again telling me if I into something bad again. I am not into nothing. I neva know what happening.”
Duane Moody
“Sir, so the police never explained to you why they were searching your vehicle or searching you?”
On the Phone: Mike Menjivar
“They told me I was reckless driving. I’m not reckless driving. If I was reckless driving at the beginning, I could admit that. But when I notice that they don’t want nobody to pass, I respect the whole time. I have no problem with them to search me, but they noh supposed to treat a civilian like that. I noh know if they train them that way, but that is not the way that they gonna search somebody or treat somebody.”
