Chief: Glassboro Officers 'Followed Established Protocol' After Guns Pointed At Rowan University Students
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GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) -- A video has gone viral of Glassboro police pointing their weapons at two Rowan University students on Monday afternoon following a report of a person pointing a handgun at a vehicle.
Witnesses reported seeing a black Charger leave the scene of the robbery on Oct. 1 around 4:30 p.m.
"Officer, he just came out of the store with a gun in his hand," a man can be heard saying to the police, directing officers to the black Charger.
Glassboro police release body cam video of that initial report.
Glassboro police spotted a black Charger pull into the campus of Rowan University -- right outside of the residential housing.
"Officers maintained direct visual contact with the vehicle until it was eventually stopped in the area of North Campus Drive on the property of Rowan University where further investigation was conducted. During this incident, the on-scene officers utilized their training and followed established protocol to ensure the safety of everyone involved in this incident," said police in a release on Wednesday afternoon.
Students recorded the incident on their cell phones. Officers can be seen ordering the man and woman to get out of the car with their weapons drawn.
But what police didn't know is that they were just Rowan University students, and were not involved in the robbery.
"Glassboro Police pulled over the vehicle as it drove onto Rowan's Glassboro campus and into the Mimosa Hall parking lot. Being that it was believed that one of the occupants of the vehicle had a gun, Police followed procedures and drew their weapons until all the occupants exited the vehicle and were searched. The situation ended without incident. No weapons were found," Dr. Jose Cardona, a university spokesperson, told CBS Philly.
It wasn't a warm welcome to Glassboro for Giavonna Robinson. Robinson is just a freshman.
She tells CBS3 she was in the car when Altaif Hassan was ordered to get out.
"First I see it pointed at Teif and I was like they have a gun pointed at you. And then I saw other guns," recounted Robinson.
Police confirm no weapons were found and that the students were compliant with the officers' directions.
"Officers have an obligation to investigate when this type of information is provided regarding a serious threat of an alleged armed subject in our community for the safety of all involved including the people that are subject of the investigation," police said.
Hassan tells us he felts like he was racially profiled and hopes his situation sparks a change.
"If you don't want to apologize I understand. But at least feel bad. Like I really just put this kid through all of that. Like for no reason, it wasn't nothing," said Hassan.
There's going to be an open discussion in the ballroom on Friday at 11 a.m. as students will be able to speak with counselors and other professionals about race relations and policing in the community. Glassboro police have been invited, but it's unclear if they will be in attendance.
