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How Did Black Doll's Head Get On Cop Car Antenna?

Community Leaders In Harlem Not Buying Explanation From NYPD, Allege Racism By 2 White Officers

NEW YORK (CBS) ― In Harlem there is a dispute over whether the head of a black doll, placed onto the antenna of an unmarked police car, was put there by cops or by somebody else. Community leaders suspect it was the police, and they want disciplinary action.

The leaders on Thursday called for an independent investigation -- not just a probe by NYPD Internal Affairs.

What's at issue?

"Officers on patrol in a neighborhood with black head stuck to the antenna of a car," State Sen. Bill Perkins, D-Harlem, said.

The outrage began with a news conference Wednesday at which Perkins and others called for firings of suspensions of two white officers, one said to be a lieutenant.

The incident happened Tuesday evening on Fifth Avenue in Harlem, at the opening of a new restaurant. With local dignitaries inside, an unmarked police car pulls up in front. Clarence Jones, who said he was across the street, saw a black doll's head on the car.

"Silver Impala with baby head on antenna," Jones said. "I try to take picture with phone. They pull it off and threw it in trunk and go into restaurant laughing about it."

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said Wednesday the officers had just left a basketball game and the driver didn't see the doll's head on the car, until he got out at the restaurant.

"It was pointed out to him," Kelly said. "[He] didn't know it was there and just threw it off the car."

But if it was thrown into the street, wouldn't a witness retrieve it? Witnesses said police threw it in the trunk.

"The car was searched by Internal Affairs, which responded to do the investigation," Kelly said. "We have statements by investigators. It was thrown away."

The facts are not all clear. Commissioner Kelly said while some people claimed they saw a police car driving around with the doll as early as noon, he says the car didn't go into service until 4 p.m.

Police say they are continuing to canvas the area for security cameras that might shed light on when and where the doll was put on the car.

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