A black man was filmed being handcuffed by a white cop for eating a breakfast sandwich on a train platform.
Steve Foster, 31, claims he was singled out for the colour of his skin and that other passengers were consuming food too.
It happened at the Pleasant Hill Station in Walnut Creek, California, last Monday, while he waited to board the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) line.
In a clip of the incident, released on Friday, Mr Foster said: “You came here and busted me. Why did you single me out, out of all these people?”
The officer, who is white, held onto the man’s backpack as he pointed to Mr Foster’s sandwich.
He said: “You’re eating. It’s against the law, it’s a violation of California law. I have the right to detain you.”
I’m not going to jail for eating a f***ing sandwich
Steve Foster
As tensions appeared to escalate another officer arrived at the scene.
Mr Foster protested: “I’m not going to jail for eating a f***ing sandwich.”
The officer replied: “No, you’re going to jail for resisting arrest. You’re going to end up going to jail today, my man.”
An unidentified woman, who filmed the incident, quizzed the officer about rules on the BART platform.
She asked why food was being served in the building if people were not permitted to consume it on the platform.
Later, in a second clip, she also asked what the officer had done prior to handcuffing Mr Foster.
He claimed to have received a report about an “intoxicated” person and then noticed Mr Foster while he walked back.
The unnamed officer denied targeting him for the colour of his skin.
He said: “If (Mr Foster) wants to cooperate, he could have a citation and be on his way. If he doesn’t want to cooperate he’ll go to jail today.”
I think I was singled out because I was black, to be honest.
Steve Foster
The incident is now being investigated, members of the BART’s board of directors told ABC7.
The transit company released a statement where they stated: “He was not arrested. He was cited for eating, which is a violation of state law.”
“I think I was singled out because I was black, to be honest,” Mr Foster told ABC7.
He added: “I hope they start focusing on stuff that actually matters like people shooting up dope, hopping the BART, people getting stabbed.”
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Mr Foster received a $250 (£195) fine and 48 hours of community service but said he planned to fight the ticket.
On Sunday, passengers held an “eat-in” protest, where around 30 people consumed food on the platform.
The Sun Online reached out to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department but did not immediately receive a response.