Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) -  The city of Rochester and Rochester Police Dept. are responding to a video that was posted over the weekend and went viral.

The video was originally posted to a now-deleted Instagram account @thisisnike1 claiming to be the source of the video with the caption, ‪"Somethin’ been telling me to hold on to this video over a year now, ok. Some days we make it home or some days we make it 6 feet deep. Imagine getting killed at home, while jogging, playing, minding your own business or just damn breathing?"

According to a news release from the city, the video involves “an occurrence” that took place on June 1, 2019. The video shows a verbal confrontation involving a black man and three white officers in the city’s downtown bar and entertainment area.

Rumors began spreading on social media that the detained man is an FBI agent, however, that is not true, according to the release:

“The officers believed they recognized a person known to have an arrest warrant for assault.  The individual was roughly the same height, weight and age of the individual the officer believed to have a warrant.  Officers approached the male and asked him his name.  The individual was not cooperative in identifying himself to officers.  The officers determined they had reasonable suspicion to detain the individual and determine his identity.  During the brief detention, identification was located showing he was not the individual the officers knew had a warrant.  The individual was immediately released.  Contrary to social media rumors, the individual was not a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent. 

The individual requested to speak with a supervisor and a supervisor arrived to speak to the individual. The individual requested the officers’ business cards, which each officer willingly provided.  The officers and the individual parted ways.  

The supervisor that was on scene notified the professional standards manager of this interaction, which is in alignment with the RPD’s organizational value of accountability.”

Rochester, MN Police Chief Jim Franklin
Rochester, MN Police Chief Jim Franklin
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RPD Chief Jim Franklin shares, “Although we do not always get things right, the Rochester Police department is an agency dedicated to continuous improvement and providing the highest level of public service to this first class city we serve.”

Mayor Kim Norton and Chief Franklin are committed to working with community leaders and organizations in the coming days, weeks and months to hear their recommendations and insights into how we can continue to identify meaningful opportunities for change and improvements.
The video can be seen below. Warning: extensive profanity.

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