Police: Neighborhood watch posts call to watch young blacks

SHREVEPORT, La. – Shreveport police are investigating posts to a large neighbourhood watch group suggesting recent car break-ins are reason to watch young, black men or teens, and even for so-called “vigilante justice.”

Police confirmed on Thursday that they’re investigating some of the posts made to the Facebook page called “Broadmoor Neighbors in Shreveport,” The Times reported (http://bit.ly/2d9dSVB ).

The page’s co-administrator, James Richard, said administrators deleted some posts for breaking rules against abusive or inflammatory comments to the group, which has nearly 2,700 members. He said others were removed because responses broke the rules.

“I hope people will learn from this situation,” he said. “Words typed on social media can have consequences in the real world.”

One member was blocked from the group for making “blatantly racist” comments, he said. “Unfortunately, we all must live with the vile words that he spewed.”

The newspaper said it received screenshots of parts of some posts, but was unable to reach the people who wrote them.

It quoted one comment under a woman’s name: “I volunteer for the vigilante justice force!”

Fabian and Darcel Moreno of Shreveport told the newspaper that they and two other residents met Thursday with police.

Dercel Moreno said she also had posted messages to the group noting that her sons fit a broad description of a perceived target for suspicion, and that she was worried by the stereotyping and suggestions of vigilantism.

She said she went to police because “I wanted them to do something — people can’t play police officers.”

Her husband said police told them that the situation already was being investigated.