Every day, Black Americans pause during errands, step outside with their children, or walk with their dogs—and sometimes, someone feels the need to call the police.
It’s part of a broader, painful pattern: Black people are disproportionately subjected to law enforcement scrutiny. Studies show black people are much more likely to face fatal and nonfatal police force than white people.
In a recent case posted to TikTok, a North Carolina man says it was enough for him to just take a three-minute break—and still got that call.
North Carolina man calls out ‘racist‘ customer at Circle K
TikTok creator James (@james_telismond) posted a clip filming a man who’s staring back at him while he calls him out. The man wears a badge holder around his neck, with a card that reads, “Tony Customer Service rep.” It appears to have the Circle K logo. The video got over 5,600 views.
“I pulled up for 3 minutes at a gas station,” he explains. “This racist man came outside talking about some ‘I gotta leave’ and then called the cops on me for no reason—just for feeding my puppy.”
The man stands in front of him, with a slight smirk on his face.
His tone cracks when he adds: “This man is racist as [expletive],” he continues. “He don’t know me.”
James reiterates that he simply stopped for three minutes to take a break. “This man right here, racist piece of [expletive]. You hear me?”
What you can do if the police are wrongly called on you
When police are called on someone without cause, it can escalate quickly, especially for Black Americans.
If it happens, the first priority is to stay calm and visible. Explaining the situation clearly—something as simple as saying you were just feeding your dog or taking a break—can help establish context right away.
Recording the encounter, if it’s safe to do so, can also provide valuable protection later.
It’s also important to ask why officers were called and, if possible, request a report number before they leave. That documentation can be useful if you decide to speak with a civil rights organization or pursue legal advice.
And if you believe the call was racially motivated, you may have grounds to push further, whether that’s filing a complaint or seeking legal help.
@james_telismond Stopped in NC to feed my dog and stretch racist old dude instantly called the cops ?#stopracism #northcarolina #roadtrip #virał #besafe ♬ original sound – James Telismond
Commenters warn him to be careful
Viewers quickly chimed in. One commenter said, “I mean, I lived over ten years in Fayetteville. Sounds like you haven’t. That’s NC—man, be very careful.”
Another noted, “Bro, disputed nothing.”
“He doesn’t care cuz he’s surrounded by people like him and he knows nothing will happen to him,” a third wrote. “Please be careful.”
James provided additional details in the comments, writing, “Dude called the cops in a panic saying I had weapons, when all I wanted was an energy drink.”
He also tagged Circle K directly, saying, “They really need to hire better staff, because nobody deserves to be racially profiled after driving 40 hrs.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to James via TikTok direct messages. We also reached out to Circle K via email.
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