Texas doctor apologizes for inaccurate tweet about Baltimore Black Lives Matter

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - A Texas cardiologist has issued an apology after his viral tweet was refuted by newly-released officer body-worn camera footage.

Dr. Andrea Natale wrote earlier this week,

My daughter called in tears. She was driving with her boyfriend in Baltimore and their car was attacked by a group of BLM. It was damaged and her boyfriend was beaten. She filmed it and called police but they cannot do anything because they are African American. Is this the America we want?

The tweet has since been deleted and the doctor has issued an apology, since the Baltimore Police Department released footage from the responding officers' body-worn camera.

The footage shows the officer responding to a call for destruction of property on President and Lombard streets Sunday, September 13.

At the scene, the officer comes into contact with a couple who had just had an encounter with squeegee workers.

“The kid came and tried to wipe the windshield and we very politely said no and then they started yelling at us,” said the female victim to the officer.

The woman hands police her cell phone that reportedly contained a recording of the incident, detailing how one squeegee worker cracked her side mirror.

The woman’s boyfriend who was also in the car then details when he stepped in.

“I got out of the car, three guys surrounded me and I said, okay – stop. I will defend myself. I do have a knife on me and the other guy pulled out his knife,” said the man to the officer.

The incident ends with no one hurt, but the couple frustrated and visibly shaken.

According to Dr. Natale’s tweet, the woman then calls him, prompting the Doctor to take to social media.

But, the video showed no indication of a Black Lives Matter activist or that the boyfriend was beaten, as indicated in the tweet. There was also no indication the officer’s explanation as to what can or can’t be done had anything to do with race.

“To be honest the city doesn’t want us to engage with squeegee boys,” said the officer.

“We’ve got our hands tied. It’s illegal walking in the street but they don’t want us to,” his voice then trailing away.

Squeegee workers and the handling of them is a long-standing, controversial issue in Baltimore.

FOX45 questioned the City and Baltimore Police Department if in fact officers are told to not engage with squeegee workers.

A spokesperson for BPD did not directly answer the question, rather pointed to a summer program where these workers are approached and offered jobs.

The City has not yet responded.

The doctor issued an apology reading,

I sincerely apologize for a tweet I posted this weekend. I was worried about my daughter, and I jumped to a conclusion based on the information I had at the time. I’ve dedicated my entire professional career to healing people from all backgrounds, and I regret that my words created hurt and pain. It was not my intention.