NEWS

Iowa football player's police encounter story goes viral

Suzanne Behnke
shesemanbe@dmreg.com

University of Iowa football player Faith Ekakitie took to social media to recount his experience of being stopped by police after he was mistaken for a robbery suspect as he was playing Pokemon Go last week.

Iowa defensive lineman Faith Ekakitie signs autographs prior to the Hawkeyes' open spring game at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, April 25, 2015.

ICYMI, here's part of what Ekakitie wrote:

"Today was the first time that I’ve ever truly feared for my life, and I have the media to thank for that.

"Today I was surrounded and searched by approximately five Iowa City Police Officers. My pockets were checked, my backpack was opened up and searched carefully, and I was asked to lift up my shirt while they searched my waistband.

Trending on Facebook

The Hawkeye defensive end's experience ended up trending on Facebook Monday morning after a Des Moines Register story this weekend. Thousands of readers shared the news posts from Facebook, ESPN.com, Bleacher Report, the Washington Post, SB Nation and the Register, to name a few.

ESPN.com reported: "Sgt. Jorey Bailey of the Iowa City Police Department told ESPN that police stopped a man named Faith Ekakitie because he matched the description of the robber, who is also black and was also dressed in black clothes. Bailey said the officers were not acting undercover and were wearing police uniforms."

Ekakitie thoughtfully ended his Facebook post, thanking Iowa City police for handling the situation professionally. "Lastly, I would urge us all to at least to attempt to unlearn some of the prejudices that we have learned about each other and now plague our minds and our society. I am convinced that in the same way that we learned these prejudices, we can also unlearn them."

Mobile users view Ekakitie's post here.

With 'four gun barrels' in his face, Iowa football player recounts police encounter