'I Don't Feel Safe With You Following Me': Man Tails Black Woman

GROVELAND, MA — Groveland police are investigating after a Black resident was followed by a white resident after she drove up his street to pick up a bag of dog food.

Julia Santos, 21, said she saw an offer online about dog food available about a mile from her home and went to pick it up. Santos, who is Black, then drove away, at which point a white man in a BMW convertible began following her.

She pulled onto a street near her home and the man drove up alongside her and accused her of suspicious behavior. He left after a resident of the street came out in her defense and asked him to leave.

"I hope it opens the eyes of people with their 'small town blinders' up and realize racism happens everywhere, even in their community," she said.

Santos posted a video to Facebook showing her confrontation with the man.

"I don't feel safe with you following me," she tells the man in the video.

"I don't feel safe with you driving around my neighborhood," the man responds.

"Is it because I'm Black?" she asks.

The man denied that it was because of her race and said there are "too many people" driving around. He accused her of not stopping when she drove up his street. She explained she was picking up dog food.

"I don't like the fact that this poor girl is being harassed," said a neighbor who asked the man to leave, noting it was a private road.

Groveland police opened a criminal investigation, Chief Jeffrey T. Gillen said.

Police said they identified the man and have interviewed him. Police did not name him. Santos named a man in her post; Patch has not confirmed it was the same man in the video.

"The fact that a resident of our town could face accusation and be followed around like a criminal should make everyone stop in their tracks and consider how we treat one another," Gillen said in a statement. "Our job as police officers is to not only keep people safe but also feel safe in Groveland, and we will aggressively investigate this situation and do everything we can do to ensure it is not repeated."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.