Racial Profiling Allegations in Costa Mesa

Now at 10:30, video posted on social media triggers

accusations of racial profiling in Costa Mesa.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which was

recorded during a traffic stop a week ago.

The driver told the officer he didn't have his driver's license, and the

situation escalated from there. KTLA's Carlos Salcedo live at Costa

Mesa police headquarters with the video and the reaction.

Carlos?

Mike and Sharon, that controversial traffic stop happened

exactly a week ago, the

driver alleging racial profiling and discrimination.

Tonight, the police department here in Costa Mesa,

they've launched an

investigation.

You're not gonna tell me you have the right to search the car when you don't.

But I'll show you.

A traffic stop posted on TikTok has blown up following controversial

comments made by a Costa Mesa police officer.

I studied at the number one public university, though.

What? Prison?

Berkeley.

Prison?

Prison. That's racist.

I've seen the film.

As soon as I said university, he said, "What?

Prison?"

Twice.

Abdullahi Aden was behind the wheel.

It was last Tuesday when the 22-year-old UC Berkeley student

was pulled

over leaving South Coast Plaza, initially for having tinted windows,

before things turned heated.

He told me, "Where's your license?" I told him,

"I don't have my physical

license on me. Um, I do have my driver license number

memorized."

Um, but then he just began looking through the

car, the driver's side

door, uh, with his flashlight.

Aden alleges racial profiling after telling the cop he did not

have the right to search his vehicle.

He just sees a Black kid in a car in Costa Mesa at the mall, and

he thinks, "This kid's up to trouble."

These comments were, at best,

racially insensitive. At worst, they were racism.

KTLA legal analyst, Allison Triessl, points to a recent Supreme

Court case that disputes the cop's claim.

The officer in this case was wrong.

He did not have a right to search this

driver's vehicle because this driver did not have his driver's

license. That is simply not the law in the state of

California.

The Costa Mesa Police Department has launched an internal investigation, saying

in a statement, quote, "We are committed to protecting

and serving our community

fairly and with empathy. We want to ensure our community

that we take

these matters seriously."

I'm not anti-cops, you know what I mean?

Um, it's, the issue is the cops are not looking at us like human.

And following that exchange, the driver was given a fix-it ticket for

those

tinted windows. He was also told that the cop involved was placed

on administrative leave. That's the latest here in Costa Mesa.

Carlos Salcedo, KTLA 5 News.