Tampa bank calls 911 on ‘suspicious’ man who was just waiting for the business to open
By: -----
Tampa, FL - After a Black man was approached by a Tampa police officer while sitting in his car outside of a bank, his video of the interaction went viral.
Now, newly released police body camera footage shows another angle of the incident – and why the bank says they contacted authorities.
On May 6, a Tampa Police Department officer was called to the Chase Bank location on Kennedy Boulevard to investigate a reported suspicious vehicle. The body camera footage has a time-stamp showing that the interaction occurred just before 9 a.m., the bank’s posted opening time.
The officer approached the driver, who told him he was just waiting for the bank to open. Bank staff reported the driver having an “open container” of alcohol, but the footage showed that it was just a Red Bull energy drink.
The driver explained that he operated several Airbnb properties and was there to conduct business at the bank.
After speaking with a staff member, the officer returned to the car and informed the driver that the bank was now open.