Report: APD Investigating Interaction Between Jon Jones & Police Officers
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been very vocal since the passing of George Floyd last week, whether through social media posts or through the stopping of vandalism in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jones was recently seen interacting with members of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), which was shown on Twitter, and that interaction is now being investigated by the very same police department according to KOB 4:
This interaction came to our attention today. This was not a Department-sanctioned contact, and we are investigating the incident.
— Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) June 3, 2020
APD opposes vigilante actions and attempts by civilians to intervene in planned, peaceful protests. We also discourage the presence of armed civilians at protests, which has the potential to escalate violence, not prevent it.
— Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) June 3, 2020
An unnamed officer and Jones had the following conversation, with the transcript provided by MMA Fighting:
“I’m sure you guys can deescalate just by talking to them,” the officer said. “But, obviously with us in uniform, they treat us a little bit different. So I mean, if you guys can talk to them on that level.”
“If we get in the way, if we’re being more of a distraction than help, just give one of us a call, and we’ll clear the area as soon as possible,” Jones later replied.
APD Spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos issued the following statement on the matter to KOB 4:
“We want to discourage that kind of activity. Because regardless of their intentions, it has the potential to actually escalate the situation. We very much understand the frustration of business owners, in particular, who are trying to protect their property. But, the police — we’re downtown and dealing with these situations, we have a whole series of steps we take to try, and create the least amount of escalation — or potential of escalation — as possible at first.”
There has been no comment from Jones as this time towards the investigation being done by the APD.
