Jeffrey Epstein, 59, a white doctor who was the focus of a viral video in which he is heard complaining that police “treated [him] like a Black person” now says he was making a point about law enforcement behavior, according to multiple news organizations.
The incident took place early Thursday morning at Orlando International Airport. Orlando police responded to several reports of an unruly passenger at an American Airlines ticket counter and discovered Epstein shouting obscenities, according to an arrest document provided to NBC News affiliate WESH.
https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1030485470122270720
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Epstein, of Lakeland, Fla., now tells WESH he was trying to prove a point about police of excessive force. Epstein is a physician with the Peak Annual Wellness Center, a medical practice focused on geriatrics, the report says.
“If you’re going to do this to a white doctor who’s 59-years-old, for doing nothing, then why would Black people trust you?” Epstein told the television news outlet after he was released from jail.
What Jeffrey Epstein said when he was being detained by the police is a clear indication that white america is very aware of how unfairly black people are treated.
— Ask about me….. (@Niasmom_) August 17, 2018
During the incident, Epstein initially appeared to calm down as the officers approached, but when they informed him he would not be able to board his flight due to his behavior, he lashed out again, NBC reported.
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The video shows that when police tried to handcuff Epstein, tensions heightened, prompting Epstein to shout that he was “ … not resisting, you are treating me like a f—ing Black person!” Law enforcement ultimately used pepper spray on the doctor.
NEW: Lakeland doctor Jeffrey Epstein arrested at @MCO for resisting @OrlandoPolice officers who said he was yelling and had to leave. In video, the dr says they're "treating me like an (expletive) black person". Epstein tells me he was making point about police use of force #WESH pic.twitter.com/1ZTN0lRT0B
— Bob Hazen WESH (@HazenWESH) August 16, 2018
After the arrest, police found a bag of marijuana on Epstein, NBC reported arresting officer Christopher Chaplin said.
Epstein was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, trespassing after a warning, disorderly conduct and possession of cannabis, police told NBC.
After complaining of chest pains upon his arrest, Epstein was taken to the hospital and, en route, allegedly told an officer that he “created a very big disturbance and I did it on purpose,” NBC reported.