BenDaDonnn Says College Station Police Racially Profiled Him

Streamer BenDaDonnn says he believes he was racially profiled by College Station police during his arrest outside a Northgate bar early Sunday, and that he has lawyers involved and plans to sue. He made the comments during a nearly three-hour livestream on Monday night, KBTX reported, and Complex also reported his account. The city of College Station said Tuesday that the incident “remains under investigation and review” and declined to comment further, according to KBTX.

BenDaDonnn, whose real name is Benjamin Benius Beard, 34, of Miami, was arrested after the Texas A&M–Arkansas game on a charge of evading arrest or detention, with bond set at $7,000, according to Complex. KBTX reported that he was released later that day on bond from the Brazos County jail and that he says he spent about 14 hours in confinement in total.

“What I do want to say is I do believe that I was racially profiled,” Beard said on the stream, as quoted by both outlets. “I’m not here to, like, make this into no crazy thing, but obviously I do think I was racially profiled.” He said one officer singled him out of the crowd. “I was wrongfully accused. I was wrongfully detained,” he added. In another remark quoted by KBTX, he said, “We’re going to get them for millions.”

Beard disputes parts of the police account. According to KBTX, he acknowledged that he vocally disagreed with the officer’s approach but said he had complied with the request to stay on the sidewalk. “What am I being detained for?” he asked, according to Complex. “Because the only order was to get on the sidewalk.” He also told viewers that his security guard pushed the officer’s arm away from the group and told the officer he did not need to touch people, KBTX reported.

College Station police have described the incident differently. Officers said they were clearing patrons from the roadway in front of a bar when a group refused to comply with commands, and that one officer was shoved to the ground by Beard’s security guard, according to KBTX. Police said an officer “deployed a less-lethal tool in an attempt to gain compliance” as Beard tried to get away. The security guard, Kenny Carter, 29, of Lithonia, Georgia, was charged with interference with public duties.

Beard said he was tased twice, first in his upper right arm and then in his torso, and that he did not learn about his charges until well after he was jailed, according to KBTX. He told viewers he has had trouble sleeping since the arrest. Complex noted that no lawsuit had been filed as of Oct. 6, and the charge against Beard is an allegation that has not been tested in court.

He also spoke about the rest of his weekend in College Station. KBTX reported that Beard said the incident happened about 10 minutes after he finished a paid appearance at a Northgate bar, that being turned away from the Aggies’ locker room was not a big deal, and that former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel had arranged parts of the trip. For more creator and streamer news, visit our Influencers page.

Verification: Beard’s livestream remarks, the city’s statement and the police account come from KBTX (Josh Gorbutt, Oct. 6) and Complex (Mark Elibert, Oct. 6). Both outlets report his claim of racial profiling and his stated plan to take legal action; the bond figure and filing status are from Complex.