What started as a seemingly normal day at work turned into a full-blown confrontation after a man, who said he was just “fixing the cable,” was suddenly stopped, searched, and detained by police—without clear evidence of any crime.
In the viral footage, the man is seen wearing casual work clothes, crouched near a utility box on the street. A police cruiser pulls up, and within moments, officers begin questioning him.
“What are you doing here?” an officer asks.
“Fixing the cable,” the man responds, motioning toward the open panel and his tools.
But instead of confirming his story or asking for a work ID, things escalated quickly.
“Do You Have ID? Who Sent You?”
According to witnesses—and now millions online—the officers didn’t believe the man’s explanation. They began checking him for “irregularities,” reportedly searching him and inspecting his vehicle.
“I told them I was with the cable company. Showed them my gear, everything. They still said something didn’t add up,” the man said in a follow-up clip.
Eventually, despite his insistence that he was just on the job, the officers detained him and took him to the station for further questioning.
No charges were filed at the time of reporting.
The Internet’s Pissed: “Working While Suspicious?”
Commenters are calling the incident yet another example of profiling and unnecessary escalation.
“You can’t even do your job without being treated like a criminal now?” one viewer wrote.
“This man had tools, gear, and a reason to be there. What else do they want—a parade?” another added.
Others are demanding accountability from the police, especially if no actual crime was committed.
What Are Your Rights When You’re Just… Working? 🛠️
In most countries, if you’re on public or private property with permission or in a work capacity, you’re not breaking the law—especially if there’s no complaint or visible crime.
However, if police receive a report or claim there’s something “suspicious,” they can investigate—but detention and transport without clear cause raises serious civil liberties concerns.
“Fixing Cable Isn’t a Crime” – Unless You Look Like One?
The story is becoming a flashpoint in ongoing discussions about over-policing, especially in neighborhoods where simply existing—or working—can be treated as suspicious.
And as the man put it himself in a follow-up post:
“Next time I’ll bring a neon vest and a body cam. Apparently, that’s the only uniform they respect.”