LOS ANGELES — Damien Smith was making a documentary about police brutality. But when a burglar broke into his Hollywood apartment, he didn't hesitate to call the cops.
Smith, a Black filmmaker and actor, was critical of law enforcement but believed officers were necessary to fight crime. He hoped for better community policing. That was the subject of his documentary, "Searching for Officer Friendly," which focuses on national policing trends and the militarization of police forces.
But Smith says when police arrived at his home late at night, officers tased him — not the burglar. They then placed him in the back of a squad car. He was released not long after, but not before being humiliated in front of his neighbors.
