Police stop black man for 'walking with his hands in his pockets'

The US is on the brink of a new crisis of confidence in the nation's police following the announcement last week that the officer who shot black teenager Michael Brown will face no charges.

One black man was especially incredulous therefore, to find himself briefly detained by police for, as he was told, "making people nervous" by "walking with his hands in his pockets".

Brandon McKean filmed the exchange with the officer amid freezing conditions in Pontiac, Michigan, on Thanksgiving last week, later posting it on Facebook and YouTube.

When he challenged the officer to explain why he had been stopped, he was told: "You were walking by... you were making people nervous... they said you had your hands in your pockets."

McKean replied: "Wow, walking by having your hands in your pockets makes people nervous to call the police when it's snowing outside?"

The officer, who for some reason also filmed the encounter, nevertheless asked: "What are you up to today?"

"Walking, with my hands in my pockets," McKean replied.

The officer said: "Is it an inconvenience talking to me right now?"

"Hell yes," McKean replied, "just because the whole police situation going on across the country."

To which the officer said: "We do have a lot of robberies, so I'm just checking on you."

Happily enough in this case the incident ends with nothing more than a high-five between McKean and the officer.

Writing on his Facebook page, McKean urged people to "keep your cameras on" and to film all interactions with police.

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