Zackary Berger account of 1/20/16 incident with a BPD officer, posted on Facebook

[File under: What if I was black?
Also filed as a complaint with Baltimore police]

I wish to lodge a complaint against badge number 1884. I am a physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a resident at North Calvert St in Charles Village. My 3-year-old daughter, who is sick, was with a babysitter at home, and I was on my way to the CVS Pharmacy at 25th and Charles streets to pick up some liquid tylenol. Just before crossing Charles, in front of Yum’s Asian Bistro, I was approached by a police officer.

The officer said, I’m going to need to handcuff you, and proceeded to cuff my hands behind my back without asking permission. He asked me, “Did you get a pill bottle from that guy?” when, in fact, I had not spoken to or made eye contact with anyone on my way from 28th and Calvert to 25th and Charles. He then asked me if I had gotten a cigarette from “that guy,” when I had spoken to no one.

He then asked if I had ID. Rather than uncuffing me and letting me get my wallet, he proceeded to rifle through my pockets, taking my wallet out of my back pocket and searching it.

The episode was traumatic, unprofessional, and wholly unnecessary. He made a mistake by assuming I had spoken to someone, when I did no such thing; handcuffed me without any need to do so; and searched me without any due cause.

The officer did not proffer any apology. He did offer a written description but I was in a hurry to get back to my sick daughter and my patients.

Given the complicated history of Baltimore police and its relations with city residents, I hope this will be investigated thoroughly.

Much appreciation for your time.

best wishes,
Zackary Berger, MD, PhD