Lone MLB anthem kneeler attacks police in arrest video: 'This is why I took a knee'
Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell gained some notoriety last September when he became the only MLB player to take a knee during the national anthem.
From the @sfchronicle’s Santiago Mejia, here is A’s rookie Bruce Maxwell becoming the first MLB player to take a knee for the anthem: pic.twitter.com/q8QVY9hW15
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 24, 2017
A month later, Maxwell found himself in a different type of controversy when he was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at a female food delivery person.
According to police in Scottsdale, Arizona, when the Postmates driver arrived at Maxwell’s home, he answered the door by aiming a gun at her face. Maxwell was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct.
In April, he agreed to plead guilty to the disorderly conduct charge and receive a sentence of probation and community service.
Now TMZ Sports has obtained video of his arrest, and it shows a shirtless Maxwell berating the officers on the scene with obscenities and ranting about racial injustice.
(WARNING: Video features heavy use of profanity.)
“Think I’m intimidated?” he yells at one officer. “Cool. Cool. I hope so. I’m not afraid of f—ing none of y’all n—as. I don’t give a f—.”
Maxwell continued, “Guess what, f—ing half of America afraid of y’all motherf—ers. Yeah, that’s the reason why I took a knee. F—ing anthem, dog.
“F—ing our country is afraid of the f—ing police. Want to know why? Because the f—ing police does unjustice s— and gets f—ing paid leave for it.”
Maxwell, who police say reeked of alcohol, told officers that he is “uncomfortable” in the United States because he is mixed race.
“My mom is white as s—. My dad is black as a motherf—er. Guess what? I’m uncomfortable in this country. I’m uncomfortable when I’m in f—ing Arizona, where I pay my godd— taxes.
“How does that f—ing make you feel? You probably don’t give a f—.”
At one point, the catcher seemed confused about why he was being charged with aggravated assault, saying, “Aggravated assault of what?”
Later, when he was in the back of a squad car, Maxwell suggested he pointed the gun when he answered the door because people had threatened his life over his national anthem protest.
“You think I’m going to disrespect somebody over some godd— food? … You think think I’m going to disrespect someone who’s giving me a sub sandwich? Yeah, I’m f—ing protected, because I got people after my life right now,” he said.
In addition to his off-the-field problems, Maxwell has struggled on the field this season: He’s hitting just .182 with a homer and six RBIs in 55 at-bats. On June 7, the A’s sent him down to their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.
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