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Just a few hours after celebrating his victory over Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed world super middleweight title with a victory parade in his honor, boxing champion Terence Crawford found himself facing the wrong end of a gun being held by a police officer. Police say Crawford was observed “driving recklessly,” pulled him over and put him in handcuffs just a few hours after he was feted in the parade thrown for him by his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
After being pulled over shortly before 1:30 a.m., Terence Crawford can be seen on video posted to social media being told by police to open the door and step out of his car. As he prepared to exit the vehicle, the boxer could be heard telling the officer, “I’m not reaching for no gun.”
According to a statement released by the Omaha Police Department, “While speaking with the driver, an officer observed a firearm on the driver’s side floorboard. For safety, all four occupants were ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The driver was later identified as Mr. Crawford upon verification of his driver’s license and was issued a citation for reckless driving. One passenger, a member of Mr. Crawford’s security team, was also found to be carrying a legal firearm. Police have confirmed that all occupants are legally permitted to carry firearms.”
Omaha Mayor and Police Chief launch investigation
Omaha Mayor John Ewing also issued a statement, which read, “I acknowledge the seriousness of what occurred and how trust between law enforcement and our community is important and shows the need to be continuously vigilant about building relationships.
“Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has pledged an internal investigation, which I support and want to be full and thorough. We will gather all the facts and be transparent with the public about our findings. Understand that my heart dropped in learning of this end to an otherwise wonderful day and evening celebrating our city’s world boxing champion.”
Terance Crawford’s head of security speaks out
Terence Crawford’s head of security, Qasim Shabazz, who was in the car with Terence Crawford when police pulled them over, spoke to KETV News about the experience.
“A cop comes to my window. Cop goes to Bud’s window. I know the protocol,” Shabazz said, adding that despite police claiming that Terance Crawford reached for something, perhaps his license or registration, causing the officers to become fearful, that wasn’t how it went down.
“He said, ‘No, I don’t. I don’t have it [his license] on me. I left everything at home,'” Shabazz continued. “He had already told them, so there was no reason for him to reach for nothing.”
He said Crawford, following Nebraska law, told police that he had a gun in his possession. That’s when things allegedly escalated.
“The cop on his side went ballistic. Totally unhinged,” Shabazz recalled. “He says, get your hands up, get out the car. Don’t reach, don’t reach. But there was never a physical gun in sight. Everyone thought we were going to die, man.”