Eric Brown, a Black realtor in Michigan, and his client and his client’s teenage son, both also Black, were detained by police during a home showing over the weekend. Before the afternoon was over, police officers would order the trio out of the home and place them in handcuffs.
Speaking to NBC News, Brown says he asked police what the disturbance was and didn’t get an answer. He reportedly urged officers to go into his wallet and find his business card, showing that he is a real estate agent.
Still handcuffed, Brown said he was led back to the entrance of the house to demonstrate how he got the key out of the lockbox.
Wyoming Police reportedly apologized, telling Brown the property recently had a squatter.
NAR President Charlie Oppler issued a statement on the detainment, saying in part: “The detainment of Eric Brown, a Realtor from Michigan, and his clients during a recent home showing was deeply disturbing. Brown, his client and his client’s 15-year-old son—all of whom are Black—had guns drawn upon them by local police and were placed in handcuffs after neighbors reported a break in at the property. While, thankfully, neither Brown nor his clients were physically harmed in the incident, racial profiling—and the humiliation, indignity and trauma that comes with it – has no place in our country. NAR’s top priority is the safety and well-being of all of our members as we work tirelessly each and every day to make the American Dream of owning a home a reality for all.”