Derrick Etienne Jr. says he was pulled over and questioned twice by police in Columbus Monday because “you look like you have warrants,” with the Columbus Crew SC midfielder using the incidents to call for an end to "foolish and hateful stereotypes."
The 23-year-old Haitian international, signed by Crew SC in February, said he was returning from working out when he was first stopped for an “alleged illegal turn off of the highway,” one in which he didn’t receive a summons.
Etienne said within three minutes of the first stop he was pulled over again — a routine stop because of the protests in the city related to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Etienne Jr. discusses his experience on Banter
In both stops, officers said “you look like you have warrants,” according to Etienne
Teammate Jordan Hamilton also followed up with account of a similar recent interaction:
Etienne’s faith has always been a big part of his life and guided his reaction to interactions that left him shaken emotionally.
“As American people we must put behind foolish and hateful stereotypes and accept all people the way God intended … by the content of our character not the color of our skin.”
Etienne tweeted Crew SC staff reached out to offer assistance and additional support flooded in from the MLS community, including former New York Red Bulls teammates Florian Valot, Dax McCarty, Evan Louro and Chris Duvall, who detailed a similar interaction with police.
