Dallas PD Refuses To Take Down Photo of Exonerated Man They Called Suspect
Last night, after officers were shot, the Dallas police posted a photo of a person of interest. The photo showed a man in a camouflage shirt walking with a rifle strapped to his body. Immediately, Twitter sleuths began pointing out that the same man was visible in videos when the shots began. He was clearly not shooting. In fact, one video even showed him giving his weapon to a police officer so no one would think he had anything to do with the onslaught of bullets.
It later came out that he was the brother of a protest organizer. He turned himself into the police. His name is Mark Hughes and he was exercising his right to openly carry his weapon like so many Texans do.
Hughes has since been cleared by the department and, after some questioning, was let go. He spoke out, asking for an apology. Many have wondered if he can sue. Many have also wondered why the Dallas Police Department hasn’t taken the photo of him down now that he has been cleared of any and all wrongdoing.
Reporters from Mashable called the DPD to ask. Here’s what the department said:
"Because we’re keeping it there."
The police say they are keeping the photo of an innocent man on their Twitter feed, where it has been retweeted over 40,000 times, “because” they’re keeping it there.
This has sparked anger in many users of the social media platform. They’re demanding Twitter do what the police department won’t.
Remove the tweet of #MarkHughes the @DallasPD refuses to delete. @twitter @support @jack
- Nah. (@essdotX) July 8, 2016
KTVT found the man Dallas Police earlier called a shooting suspect. He's pissed. pic.twitter.com/wXhmGektYo
- Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) July 8, 2016
Hughes has reportedly been receiving death threats.
SOURCE
It later came out that he was the brother of a protest organizer. He turned himself into the police. His name is Mark Hughes and he was exercising his right to openly carry his weapon like so many Texans do.
Hughes has since been cleared by the department and, after some questioning, was let go. He spoke out, asking for an apology. Many have wondered if he can sue. Many have also wondered why the Dallas Police Department hasn’t taken the photo of him down now that he has been cleared of any and all wrongdoing.
Reporters from Mashable called the DPD to ask. Here’s what the department said:
"Because we’re keeping it there."
The police say they are keeping the photo of an innocent man on their Twitter feed, where it has been retweeted over 40,000 times, “because” they’re keeping it there.
This has sparked anger in many users of the social media platform. They’re demanding Twitter do what the police department won’t.
Remove the tweet of #MarkHughes the @DallasPD refuses to delete. @twitter @support @jack
- Nah. (@essdotX) July 8, 2016
KTVT found the man Dallas Police earlier called a shooting suspect. He's pissed. pic.twitter.com/wXhmGektYo
- Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) July 8, 2016
Hughes has reportedly been receiving death threats.
SOURCE