Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore has a major issue with the Providence Police Department.
Barmore took to social media after a traffic stop in Providence to talk about his run-in with police in Rhode Island Wednesday, claiming racism was involved.
According to Providence police, there were issues with the Patriot stars’ vehicle registration, and there were drugs in the SUV.
Christian Barmore, who was described as “belligerent” and “aggressive,” said it was “racism at its finest.”
“I just experienced for the first time 5 Providence cops being very unprofessional racism at its finest,” he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
According to a police report, the windows in Barmore’s Jeep Grand Cherokee were tinted, and he had a plate cover on the temporary registrations, which caused issues with cops’ reading ability.An officer attempted to pull Barmore over, but alleges that the defensive lineman “slow rolled” police.
“This tactic is known to police by slowing down an interaction with police to hide any contraband or weapons. It should also be noted that the area is known for high narcotic usage,” the police report said.
Christian Barmore was cited for three traffic violations, including operating an unregistered vehicle, a display of plates penalty, and driving with an expired registration.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Alabama product made history when he signed a 4-year, $92 million deal this past spring – the richest contract ever by a Patriot not named Tom Brady.
Last season, Barmore totaled career highs in tackles (64) and sacks (8.5).
There was a point this fall where the Patriots thought they might be without Christian Barmore for the 2024 NFL season, as he has yet to play in a single game.
Providence Police Department Wants Patriots Defensive Tackle Christian Barmore To Reach Out About His Claims
New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is claiming racism played a role in an interaction with Providence police officers who pulled him over on Wednesday.
After the interaction, Barmore took to social media and called the interaction with five officers “unprofessional.”
The Providence Police Department would love for him to “reach out” to discuss being pulled over, per the Boston Herald.
In response to his allegations, Police Col. Oscar Perez said the department “takes all concerns from the public very seriously and with the utmost professionalism,” while highlighting that “the officer acted in full compliance with department protocols and state regulations.”
“We understand that any encounter with law enforcement can be stressful, however, it’s important to note that officers are required to enforce all applicable laws, including those related to vehicle registration,” Perez said in a statement. “We will continue to review the situation to ensure that proper procedures were followed and to maintain transparency with the public.”
“If there are any concerns or questions about this incident,” he added, “we encourage Mr. Barmore to reach out to the Providence Police Department so we can address them in a constructive manner.”
Police also noted that they found drugs in the vehicle upon conducting their search:
Inside the vehicle, officers found “an ash cup along with what appeared to be a blunt rolled with an unknown substance where he was seen reaching under the seat. Under the passenger side seat, we found what appeared to be several tubes filled with marijuana,” the report states.
According to the report, the Patriots are aware of the situation. However, they have chosen not to address it, and head coach Jerod Mayo claims the team is “focused on Jacksonville” at the moment.
