A Colorado father is demanding an apology after he was handcuffed by police officers while playing softball with his six-year-old daughter. Matt Mooney decided to go out for some fresh air and exercise with his wife and daughter. They made their way to Donelson Park when officers with the Brighton Police Department showed up.
While his daughter was worried he might get arrested, Mooney was confident he was not breaking the law and refused to identify himself to the officers.
"She's like, 'Daddy, I don't want you to get arrested.' At this point I'm thinking, 'There's no way they're going to arrest me, this is insane," Mooney told KDVR. "I'm telling her, 'Don't worry, Daddy's not going to get arrested. I've done nothing wrong. Don't worry about it,' and then they arrest me."
Former Brighton City Councilman Kirby Wallin happened to be in the park as well and recorded as Mooney was put in handcuffs and placed in the back of the squad car.
While there is a sign saying the park is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fine print said that people can use the facilities as long as they are in groups of fewer than four people.
Mooney spent about ten minutes in the back of the squad car before he was released. He was not happy that the officers treated him like a criminal.
"If we're going to go ahead and start arresting people for no reason in front of their six-year-old daughter, you're just going to cause more problems later on," he told the news station.
The Brighton Police Department issued a brief statement saying they were investigating the incident.
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