Whitmore asked what the call said specifically.
Castellano repeated that someone didn't look like they belonged.
Whitmore pressed harder: What made them suspicious? What criminal activity was reported?
Castellano had no answer that didn't involve racial profiling. He hadn't been told about any crime, he hadn't observed any suspicious behavior, he had simply been told someone didn't look like they belonged, and he had seen a Black man washing a car.
Whitmore asked if Castellano had verified the address of the complaint. Castellano hadn't.
Whitmore asked if Castellano had called for any additional information from dispatch. Castellano hadn't.
Whitmore asked if Castellano had observed any actual criminal behavior before approaching. Castellano hadn't.
Whitmore then asked the question that would become central to the investigation that followed. He asked Castellano if the only reason for the stop was the fact that Whitmore was a Black man in a predominantly white neighborhood. Was that what "didn't look like they belonged" actually meant?
Castellano tried to deny it. He said it wasn't about race, it was about responding to a call; someone reported a suspicious person.
Whitmore pressed: What was suspicious?