RHOA cast member says police handcuffed him, accused him of stealing sandwich

ATLANTA — A businessman who has appeared on a popular reality TV show says police handcuffed him and accused him of stealing a $4 sandwich. It happened inside Emory University Hospital in midtown Atlanta -- and it was caught on camera.

Many people know Dennis McKinley from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Last season, he appeared as Porsha Williams' fiancé.

McKinley, who owns the Original Hot Dog Factory restaurants and the Cru Hookah Lounge, said things got a little too real at the hospital when a routine checkup left him in handcuffs.

He said he stopped by the hospital cafeteria to buy two sandwiches -- one for his mother and one for himself. McKinley said moments later, an Emory police officer accused him of stealing a sandwich.

“I grabbed a sandwich and I put it in my bag and she says, 'Hey, do you have a receipt for that?'” McKinley said.

McKinley said a receipt proved he purchased two sandwiches but claims the officer who questioned him never looked at the receipt.

“Put one hand on her weapon and one hand on her handcuffs and I, like, backed up and was, like, 'Wow, you’re about to shoot me for a sandwich?'" he said.

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Cellphone video shows McKinley sitting with his hands cuffed around his back.

At one point in the video, another officer showed up. McKinley said that officer did review the receipt, spoke with the cashier and let him go.

McKinley told Channel 2's Audrey Washington he would never steal anything and believes the officer racially profiled him.

“She thought I was a bold and brash criminal,” he said.

On Monday, Washington emailed and called the Emory police chief but did not hear back. So then she called Emory University Hospital.

In a statement, officials said:

"An Emory Police Department officer detained an individual suspected of not paying for an item. Once the officer learned the individual had purchased it, he was released." 

A representative said hospital officials will also look into the incident.

“Did she say anything to you as you were leaving?” Washington asked McKinley.

“If you look at the end of the video she didn’t say two words. She didn’t say, 'I apologize,'” McKinley said.

McKinley said he did retain an attorney and will weigh his legal options.

Cox Media Group